Las Vegas non-profit helps children with cancer, families with household tasks

By Jaclyn Schultz

FOX5) — A Las Vegas non-profit helps children with cancer and their families in a unique way: lending a helping hand around the home.

Zo’s Bravehearts Foundation, founded by Rino Armeni, seeks to help families with tasks like housekeeping, food delivery, vehicle repairs, and plenty of other time-consuming household duties and errands.

The foundation was inspired by Armeni’s grandson, Lorenzo, a leukemia patient that he nicknamed “Braveheart.”

“We just go in, meet the family and we say, ‘okay, what can we do for you to make you more comfortable?’ Bring some normalcy to their life,” Armeni said.

Housekeeping involves regular deep sanitation. “The immune system is the most important thing for the kids,“ Armeni said.

“There are a lot of other entities that help families. We work with them... we just complete the circle,” Armeni said. “We look at it in a different way, like a family,” he said.

The foundation connected with a brain cancer patient that FOX5 profiled, last fall: 11-year-old Elijah Portillo, who spent months in Utah while undergoing surgery and treatment.

Elijah is still going through chemotherapy treatments and just spent several days in the hospital.

The Portillo family needs plenty of support: mother, Michelle, needs nine hours of daily dialysis, and cares for the other siblings. The father, Richard, is the only working parent.

“It helps tremendously,” Richard Portillo said.

The non-profit even gave Elijah a new bed.

“It’s really helpful... they help with cleaning and just stuff we need,” Elijah Portillo said, who now calls Armeni “Grandpa.”

FOX5 verified a GoFundMe for Elijah. Those interested in viewing could find it here.

To learn more about the non-profit helping families, go to: Zo’s Bravehearts Foundation