Cool Kid Marcus Guillen creates foundation in his mom's honor after she died in Vegas shooting

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Our ABC7 Cool Kid for Thursday, Dec. 21, is Marcus Guillen, a teen who volunteers in an effort to give back to his community.

The 18-year-old has been part of his high school's Leo's club for the past four years. The senior now serves as the club's president and spends many of his weekends volunteering.

"I get here early, pack the boxes and then when I deliver the food it's just nice watching the smiles on people's faces" Marcus said.

His club adviser David Porter said Marcus attracts a lot of new kids to the program and makes it "cool to give back."

Even during the toughest times, the teen still thinks of others. Marcus's mom was shot and killed in the Las Vegas massacre in October. He received an outpouring of support, but through his grief Marcus still found a way to help others affected by the massacre.

"I wanted to take the focus off me and put it more on the other victims. The Leo Club and I designed 'Pray for Vegas' bracelets, everyone pitched in," he said.

The bracelets were made and sold to raise funds for the families of victims affected by the Las Vegas shooting. But Marcus didn't stop there. He started a foundation in honor of his mother called Just Breathe - a phrase his mom lived by.

"It kind of meant that whenever she was having anxiety or having problems to just breathe and forget about other problems and slow down and focus on what is happening right now," he said.

The Just Breathe Foundation continues his mother's love of helping others and ensures her spirit lives on in service.