SEBRING, Ohio – All students in the Sebring Local School District were outfitted with new running shoes Wednesday through a donation from The Carl and Josie Scarpitti Foundation.
The foundation is dedicated to helping children and young adults through education and sports, and the shoes were given to students to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Carl Scarpitti’s death in 1995.
The foundation was established by the Scarpitti family in memory of its namesake and longtime owner of Carl’s Shu Renewery in downtown Sebring. Josie’s name was added to the foundation after her death in 2017.
Foundation members John Scarpitti, Dave Scarpitti and Suzzanne Scarpitti were on hand for the giveaway event Wednesday.
“Our family thought donating shoes to students would be a perfect way to celebrate our father’s legacy since he was a shoe repairman who loved children,” the Scarpitti family said in a statement. “During his working years, and well after he retired, kids in town would stop by the shoe shop or our house and he would fix their shoes, repair baseball gloves and even sharpen ice skates – all for free. We still hear stories from people around town who remember our dad for these small acts of kindness.”
Second Sole, a shoe company that has serviced communities in Ohio since 1981, was the shoe vendor for the giveaway event. Second Sole staff members visited both the elementary school and high school in mid-September to size students for their shoes before placing the order. Second Sole general managers Dylan Dombi and Shannon Bragg also assisted with the fitting and giveaway Wednesday.
“Our district is extremely fortunate to receive such a gift,” said Toni Viscounte, Sebring superintendent. “Carl Scarpitti’s legacy in Sebring is one of exceptional kindness toward children. Our kids are privileged to be the beneficiaries of that legacy.”
Pictured at top: Sebring third grade students pose for a photo with John Scarpitti, Suzzanne Scarpitti and Dave Scarpitti.