The Scarpellos | A Family Fundraising for UCP

Joe and Maryanne Scarpello raised eleven children—ten boys and one girl. Justin, their eighth child, was born with cerebral palsy and passed away at the age of six.

Maryanne brought Justin to an area church where UCP provided therapy and assistive services in the community to teach families how to help their children. “The people who helped Justin were just marvelous,” says Maryanne. “We are completely indebted to UCP.”

Older brother Jerome recalls that “though he had special needs, we all thought of Justin as just another brother. As a young child I never thought much about his disability. But, his passing so saddened us all.” That sadness empowered the entire Scarpello family to embrace a lifetime relationship with UCP.

Ten years ago, Jason Scarpello was living near the UCP offices in Chestnut Hill. Driving by the building and reading about UCP in the Chestnut Hill Local led him to an idea to support the organization that had helped his own brother. The Justin Scarpello Memorial Golf Classic was born. The whole family rallied together. Jason remarks that “everyone has stepped up, we couldn’t do it without each other.” The siblings’ companies support the Classic. Title Sponsorship has been shared by NECA through support from Jeff Scarpello and Madame Tussauds through support from Janine (Scarpello) DiGioacchino. Even more importantly, they all play the course together. Jason sees the tournament not just as a fundraiser, but also as a way to “provide exposure to the great work that UCP does—and it’s always a fun day for our friends and sponsors.”

In 2001, the Scarpello family established the Justin Scarpello Memorial Fund that is part of UCP’s Family Support Fund*. Contributions made to the fund in Justin’s memory will be used to help families in the community who need help.

Jerome Scarpello named his son after his brother Justin and made sure he “knows about his uncle and how special he was.” His heart swelled when Justin announced his high school senior project would be a fundraiser for UCP. Jerome’s Justin raised over $3,000 by soliciting funds from local businesses, creating a presentation, and selling pretzels at his church.

This tradition of family fundraising even went “Hollywood” when the family wrote and performed in a feature-length film called Pistol. The family rented a theater downtown, rolled out a red carpet, and held a premiere screening. Always finding a way to contribute, all proceeds from the movie were donated to UCP.

The Scarpellos also support other UCP fundraisers throughout the year. Jeff has served on the UCP Benefit Golf Committee and the Fantasy Auction Committee and has been a sponsor of the All Star Labor Classic. Various family members are often guests or volunteers at events throughout the year

Volunteering, donating, contributing to the functions of UCP and most importantly, rallying together as a family, the Scarpellos continue to go above and beyond helping other
families through United Cerebral Palsy.

Information about the 2010 Justin Scarpello Memorial Golf Classic this September will be posted at www.ucpphila.org.