The Call to Give: Ian’s Story of Survival & Giving
Hi Friends!
This blog post is long overdue! Today, I’m excited to share about something incredibly near and dear to both Ian and me: The Call to Give.
This organization is truly a labor of love—and that love is born from one of the most defining moments of Ian’s life.
A Story of Survival and Purpose
For those of you who don’t know Ian’s story, let me take you back in time. First, I want to caveat this by saying this is my version of the story. I wasn’t in Ian’s life when this happened, and if you ever want to hear it directly from him, maybe I can convince him to write it out for all of you!
It was November 4, 2014, and Ian was at Gold’s Gym for his second workout of the day—focusing on chest and upper body. At the time, he was in the best shape of his life: 6’2”, 230 pounds, and under 10% body fat. Can we say hottie? 😍
He completed his bench press set and felt—and even heard—a sharp pop in his chest. He stood up—but immediately saw black and stars and felt like he might faint. He knew something was seriously wrong. Ian called his best friend, Brian, and asked him to take him to the ER.
The emergency staff ran the usual tests, bloodwork, and evaluations—but initially found nothing. Ian knew something was off and requested a CT scan. While the scan was happening, he chatted with the tech, who reacted with visible concern—confirming to Ian that something serious was happening. Within minutes, the doctor came rushing in to inform him that he was bleeding internally and had experienced a complete aortic dissection, a tear from the top to the bottom of his heart.
When Ian asked the doctor how bad it was from a scale of 1 to 10, the doctor replied, “11.” Life flight was called to transport him for emergency open-heart surgery at the University of Utah. Ian prayed. He called his family. And then, in the helicopter, he passed out.
During that helicopter ride, Ian had a profound near-death experience—something that is a huge part of his testimony. He saw his entire life flash before him like a movie reel. I won’t share all the details, because it’s his sacred story to tell—but I will say this: He told God it was okay if this was his time. But when he woke up, he knew that it wasn’t. He had been given not just a second chance—but a divine assignment.
When the helicopter landed, Ian was wheeled into the hospital and immediately started cracking jokes. He flirted with the nurse and said something along the lines of, “If I knew you were here, I would’ve come sooner.” Even faced with death, he kept his humor.
As he was being prepped for surgery, Ian wanted to thank the surgical team for saving his life. Finally, the anesthesiologist said, “Mr. Pizarro, you need to shut up so we can save your life.”
The next part is nothing short of a miracle: Ian had been given less than a 5% chance of surviving the surgery. It took 14 hours, during which he coded twice. But he survived.
After surgery, things didn’t get easier. Just 24 hours later, Ian developed pneumonia and spent two grueling weeks in the ICU—weak, in pain, and at times ready to give up. But with the support of his family, he pushed through. He had lost nearly 90 pounds by the time he was released, but he walked out of that hospital with purpose. Every breath reminded him of the second chance he had been given—and the responsibility to live it fully.
The Birth of The Call to Give
With his second chance at life, Ian wanted to give back. Since it was November, the best way for him to do that was by providing a Thanksgiving meal.
His first Thanksgiving after surgery, Ian made a meal for his work family.
Year two, he served two meals.
Year three, he provided three full Thanksgiving meals to families in need. After that, he continued increasing by one meal each year.
When I met Ian in 2020—his sixth year providing meals—I joined in. That year, I provided six meals as well, bringing our total to twelve. Together, we began dreaming about how much more we could give with the help of friends, family, and our community.
In 2021, we were shopping at Costco and Sam’s Club to put together meals. Because it was COVID, we were limited in what we could purchase each day. It was beautiful chaos. The night before deliveries, we and two of our friends created an assembly line to prep all the bags and ensure everything was ready. We were up until 4 a.m.—but it was worth every second.
We quickly learned that not every family had the means to cook a full meal. So in 2022, we partnered with Moonstruck Catering, a company that not only prepares delicious meals but also provides opportunities for youth aging out of the foster system to gain skills and meaningful work experience. That year, we provided 100 fully prepared Thanksgiving meals. In 2023, we increased to 110, and in 2024, 120.
In 2024, we also officially became a 501c3 nonprofit organization, making all donations fully tax-deductible. We now serve families across Utah, as well as in San Diego, Boise, Las Vegas, and beyond.
The Call Gets Louder
This year, we launched both our Instagram (@thecalltogive) and our website; https://www.thecalltogive.com/ to share our message even further.
Our Goals for 2025:
- Feed 120 families (720 individuals)
- Raise $16,200 to cover meal costs
Each meal feeds six people and includes everything a family could need for a Thanksgiving dinner—from turkey and ham to mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, and dessert. All meals are prepared by Moonstruck Catering and delivered by our AMAZING volunteers.
We receive nominations for families from our community, letting the people who know them best help us ensure the meals reach those who could benefit most.
Will You Answer The Call?
Every year, we see the incredible ripple effect that a simple act of giving can create. And here’s the truth: you don’t have to wait for a nonprofit to make a difference.
Whether you get involved with The Call to Give, support another charity, or create your own way to spread love, you can make a difference in someone’s life this year. Even small acts of kindness—your time, your energy, your creativity—have the power to transform a day, a family, or even a community.
If you feel called to get involved with The Call to Give, you can visit https://www.thecalltogive.com/get-involved to donate, volunteer, or nominate a family who could benefit.
Imagine the ripple effect if everyone chose to give a little—how many lives could we touch?
This is your call to give. How will you answer it this year?
With love,
Britt 💛
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