Growing up in Pennsylvania, Ivan Gonzalez was raised in poverty and didn’t have a lot of opportunities other kids enjoyed. He thought only wealthy people could afford to attend Broadway shows or theater performances. When he moved to Utah in his 20s, he fell in love with the state’s theater scene that he found incredibly fun and accessible. 

He started working at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake more than seven years ago. Gonzalez’s 30th birthday was coming up and he decided to throw a party for himself, inviting all the kids at the center. 

“I wanted to do a carnival and get kids out of their beds,” he said. “Primary Children’s [Hospital] and other hospitals are great, but most kids that are going through treatment, it’s like six months, nine months or a year. Video games and movies get old pretty quick.”

So he and his friends threw a party with princess and superheroes, games and a fire dancer. He even handed out presents to the kids. “It’s still the best birthday ever,” Gonzalez said. 

He had so much fun planning the birthday party that he began holding other events, providing opportunities for kids to enjoy, even when they’re going through a rough time. In 2018, he created the nonprofit Best Seat in the House where his mission is to “Provide life-changing experiences for children during difficult times.”

Best Seat in the House focuses its attention on kids with medical conditions, refugees, children in the foster care system, kids in low-income or disadvantaged families and those with special needs. Gonzalez said it’s important for children to have fun, no matter their circumstances, and his program provides several free events each month to those who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Headquartered in Sandy (1570 E. 8600 South), Best Seat in the House partners with several community organizations including the Granite Education Foundation, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, and Nomi Health and the RSL Foundation that provides free tickets to hockey and soccer games. 

“We want these kids to experience things they normally couldn’t because of their money situation or whatever their situation is,” Gonzalez said. 

The program grew fast, serving 600 kids during the first year to working with 9,000 in 2023. Gonzalez invites volunteers to take part in the events. Unlike other nonprofits, Best Seat in the House allows children to volunteer, although anyone under 12 must be supervised by an adult. 

He said volunteers come to serve and fall in love with the kids and the activities which range from carnivals, theater productions, sporting events, outings and parties. 

“We need volunteers to run the games and hand out prizes, so we’re really trying to get more volunteers to join us,” he said. “I’ve also been trying to get more [donated] event tickets, because that’s another thing that a lot of families are asking for.”

In 2023, Gonzalez was presented with the Outstanding Volunteer Award from Utah Philanthropy Day. He’s still in disbelief that his organization has grown so quickly and he’s grateful for the help he’s received. 

He loves to explain the origin for the nonprofit’s name, Best Seat in the House. It was during a party when he watched a 4-year-old boy, who was undergoing a serious medical treatment, play the Whac-A-Mole game. The boy’s mom told Gonzalez that it was the first day in a month she’d seen her son smile. 

“She was getting emotional, kind of crying, but happy seeing her son,” he said. “And my friend had a blast helping him with the game. And I was just like, ‘Man, this is the best seat in the house.’ It was the best view.”

For more information about volunteering or donations, visit Bestseatslc.org.  λ