Bryan Ortiz - Emergency Assistance Fund

On Wednesday, February 21st our brother Bryan Ortiz was involved in a life threatening workplace injury. He was working on a Line Clearance Crew and had his arm pulled into a wood chipper after a rope had tangled up in a branch. He severed an artery and his elbow was broken in 5 places. His coworkers acted quickly to control the bleeding to save his life but he remains in the hospital in critical condition. His injuries may require an amputation of his arm and we all are praying for him and his family. Bryan is 19 years old and had just joined IBEW Local Union 465 in December as a Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Trainee for UTS. His father, Armando Ortiz is a 17 year union member and a Foreman for UTS. With the family's approval we have launched this fundraiser to help with immediate medical expenses for the Ortiz Family. Please donate and please spread the word.

After speaking with Bryan he shared with us: "I pray that this injury doesn't take my arm. I am 19 and have been around this work my whole life. I love playing baseball and played at San Ysidro Baseball where I was a top three catcher in California. I recently got a scholarship to go play in Utah. I have a dream to one day become become a police officer and serve on a swat team; but now with my arm like this I pray to God that I could succeed my dreams thank you."

(My name is Nate Fairman, and I am the Business Manager of IBEW Local Union 465 is San Diego, CA. I represent 2,900 union utility workers at nine different utility properties in Southern California, including all the workers at Utility Tree Service, where Bryan and and Armando work. When our members get hurt or need assistance, we always jump to help in any way possible. Kiko Diaz, our Senior Assistant Business Manager visited with Bryan and Armando Thursday, have been supporting in any way we can, and have received permission to start this GoFundMe. The beneficiary of the fundraiser is Armando Ortiz who is the father of Bryan Ortiz.)