"J*O*S*H" Embroidered Champion Packable Jacket

In 2017, at 35 years old, an abrupt seizure landed John Pilat in the emergency room. Scans would reveal a brain tumor, officially diagnosed as Glioblastoma. Despite the findings, John never once lost hope. A strong family and friend support system was in place and assistance was offered from all, but he’s politely rejected. The oldest of 3 brothers and undoubted leader of the family, it was unlike John to be dependent on those around him. As a father of 3 young daughters, he’s continued to provide for his family and never let this diagnosis confuse him about what’s really important in life.

Over the next 7 years, John would continue operating his business full time while raising his daughters. Now, his most recent scans show accelerated growth in the tumor, which at this point is inoperable due to two previous surgeries having already taken place. When given the option, John chose to continue battling and received multiple doses of the strongest chemotherapy available. Despite these efforts, his tumor has continued to spread and the doctors advised John that treatment is no longer an option.

John has chosen to continue his battle at home, with the support of his immediate family and Hospice. As his family prepares for the inevitable, John's only concern continues to be his 3 beautiful daughters, Anna (19), Kayla (17) and Grace (7). Any donation from this campaign will go to them during this time. Please consider a shirt purchase or a donation to their online fundraiser.

Chiavetta's has been a BBQ staple in Western New York since we fired up the pit in 1954. For nearly seven decades, we've had the pleasure of serving mouthwatering BBQ to our community. Our story is one of tradition, and our hearts are deeply committed to Buffalo, the city we call home.

From our beginnings, we've grown to serve the community through parking lot pop-up chicken BBQ's, takeout, catering, and fundraising. Our core values of commitment, community, and tradition are not just words to us; they're the very essence of who we are. We're not just a BBQ destination; we're a part of the community's fabric, bringing people together through a shared food experience.