Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota visited Waiakea Intermediate School on Wednesday morning to help gift over 250 pairs of shoes to local children.
The event was hosted in partnership with Shoes That Fit, Motiv8 Foundation, Ohana Health Plan and Alohacare — and the shoes were given to children from Hilo, Keaau and Pahoa who participate in After School All Stars.
Shoes That Fit is a nonprofit organization that gives athletic shoes to children in need. While in Atlanta last year, Mariota partnered with Shoes That Fit for the first time, which inspired him to hold this week’s event in Hilo.
“I wanted to bring one back home,” Mariota said. “I’m excited to bring this here and make a difference.”
So far, Hilo is the first place in Hawaii where Mariota has held such an event.
“We wanted to reach the outer islands,” he said. “So much work gets done on Oahu, to be able to reach the Big Island or the other islands is important.”
During the event, Mariota did a panel during which kids asked him questions — such as his favorite foods, favorite and least favorite classes in school, and what kinds of adversity he has faced.
Mariota told them about his career at Saint Louis High School, and how he didn’t become the starting quarterback until his senior year — but then led the Crusaders to a state title and was recruited by Oregon.
Mariota said that his favorite thing about Hilo is its climate and lush scenery.
“I know a lot of people don’t like the rain,” he said, “but I love just how green it is here. It reminds me a lot of Oregon because of how the rain brings the beautiful scenery. Coming here to Hilo is always really fun, and I always enjoy my time here.”
Motiv8 Foundation, which is run by Mariota’s family, acquired the funding for all of the shoes that were given out. Shoes That Fit handled sizing the shoes for each child who signed up for the event.
“This is (Mariota’s) home state,” said Shoes That Fit Strategic Partnerships Manager Debra Moton, “so we’re here with him to make sure that these kids all get brand new athletic shoes, and they’re all getting Nikes.”
Ohana Health Plan and AlohaCare also pitched in to help provide the shoes.
“Many Hawaii families are already struggling to put food on the table,” Ohana Health Plan President and CEO Scott Sivik said. “Amid high gas prices and record levels of inflation, buying pairs of covered shoes for their growing keiki might not always be within their reach. We are proud to partner with Shoes That Fit to provide new athletic shoes to empower our keiki and help them put their best foot forward.”
To AlohaCare CEO Francoise Culley-Trotman, the biggest reward is seeing the kids’ faces after they get new shoes.
“For me, it’s seeing their reaction today,” she said. “It’s the things we take for granted. These kids play sports, and this is a way to help them do it safely and enjoy the sport.”
Marcus Mariota
Born and raised in Honolulu, Mariota led Saint Louis HS to its 2010 Division I state championship victory — and was named Interscholastic League of Honolulu Offensive Player of the Year and Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year.
He redshirted at University of Oregon the next Fall, then became the Ducks’ starting quarterback in 2012.
In 2014, he became the first Oregon player and first Hawaii-born athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. He was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Mariota was the Atlanta Falcons’ starting QB in 2022, before being benched in December for Desmond Ridder and put on injury reserve for a knee injury the following week.
In February, the Falcons released him. Less than a month later, he signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he will be a back-up for Jalen Hurts.
