Putting best foot forward

“My father had a colleague who was building a house down there and invited us, and normally when people visit, he has them bring supplies for the locals,’’ Gaziano said. “We collected shoes in our class and ended up with more than 100.’’

Gaziano and his father, Michael, and brother, Dante, made the trip. The young man estimates that only three out of 55 students at the Nicaraguan school they visited had footwear on. They outfitted them all.

The Gaziano’s largesse isn’t confined to Central America. A few years ago, they visited South Africa, befriended a student who wanted to be a doctor, and paid his way through medical school. In August, they’ll go back to Nicaragua with more supplies, including the much-needed shoes.

The trio also went house to house to check on water filters that San Juan Del Sur’s sister city - Newton - had given out years before, and at each house were greeted by children bearing lollipops. At the homes, the Grazianos handed out the remaining shoes.

“The children and their families were so grateful and happy, and so welcoming,’’ Liam Gaziano said. “It’ll be good to go back and give out more shoes.’’

While shoes are needed most, Gaziano said, he’ll take summer clothes and school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at the Dedham Public Library, 43 Church St.

LOCAL WOMEN IN PLEDGE HIKE: Victoria Sandbrook of Brockton, Jo-Ann Lightbody of Foxborough, and Leslie Chen and Keri Ann Watson, both of Quincy, are scheduled to hike through the White Mountains in New Hampshire July 17 through 19 in the Wilderness Heals pledge hike, supporting survivors of domestic violence. They will join 55 other women to raise money for the clients getting services at the Elizabeth Stone House in Boston for issues of domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, and other trauma.

Participating women raise at least $1,200 each, and hike one of six trails in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains over the three-day period, with five of the six routes offering overnight accommodations at Appalachian Mountain Club huts. The Elizabeth Stone House was founded in 1974. For information or to make a pledge, visit www.elizabethstone.org.

LATE GATEMEN LEADER HONORED: The Wareham Gatemen, a franchise of the Cape Cod Baseball League, is holding its first Pan-Mass Challenge Night at the team’s home game July 28 at Spillane Field. The team will donate its share of the 50-50 raffle it regularly holds at home games to the PMC in honor of longtime Gatemen president and general manager John Wylde, who died from cancer in February.

“The PMC is honored that the league is recognizing our efforts during the week of our 30th annual ride,’’ said Billy Starr, founder of the PMC, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2, and over its history has raised $239 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: The marketing and public relations team at Southcoast Hospitals, which includes Tobey Hospital in Wareham, has earned 15 national and regional awards in marketing, public relations, graphic design, publications, and video production. The New England Society for Healthcare Communications gave eight of the awards, including gold award recognition for a gastric bypass advertising campaign, a public relations campaign for the St. Luke’s shuttle program, and an annual meeting video. The other seven awards were presented by Healthcare Marketing Report magazine and included a gold award for the cardiac surgery public relations program, and a silver award for Southcoast’s “Breathe Better’’ anti-smoking campaign.

Members of the marketing and public relations team are: Jim Rattay, Joyce Faria Brennan, Katherine Tsonis, Kerry Mello, Linda Coelho, Patricia Giramma, Christine Azevedo, and Heather Tomaz.

Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at kandarian@globe.com.