Skechers’ Friendship Walk Raises $3.2 Million for Children

Skechers‘ day of “hope, love and inclusion” raised $3.2 million for children with special needs and education.

Last Sunday, thousands of attendees along with Los Angeles Dodgers baseball legend and Skechers ambassador Clayton Kershaw and his family joined forces for the 17th annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, sponsored by Nickelodeon, in Manhattan Beach. Also lending their support is America’s Got Talent (AGT) host and comedian Howie Mandel, fitness icon Brooke Burke, St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Brendan Donovan, as well as executives from Skechers. The event is dedicated to empowering children with special needs, strengthening public education, and funding national college scholarships.

Also appearing at the Walk was a special pet adoption fair in partnership with The Lovejoy Foundation, as well Dani Bowman, David Isaacman and Subodh Garg from the show Love on the Spectrum; Nayah Damasen from Monster High; Kinley Cunningham and Nathan Broxton from The Thundermans: Undercover; Pyper Braun from Erin & Aaron; Marta Kessler from The Mysterious Benedict Society and Ayva Severy from The Garcias, along with Minor 7, AGT Golden Buzzer winner and actress Madison Taylor Baez and international pop-dance sensation Mandy Corrente.

“From sports to TV to entertainment, this has become a truly one-of-a-kind event — one where the stars align every year to celebrate what matters most: the future of our children,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers USA and co-founder of the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. “Clayton’s passion for children is as legendary as his victories on the field —from his joyous family to the Kershaw’s Challenge organization and his eagerness to gather with thousands this past Sunday for our kids.” Greenberg added that Kershaw’s participation on the cusp of the World Series “speaks to his love for this cause and the impact we can all have when we team up together for our children.”

“This mission really hits home for us because it’s exactly what we strive to do through Kershaw’s Challenge — to give kids opportunities they might not otherwise have, whether that’s in the classroom, on the field, or in life,” Kershaw said “Education opens doors, and when you combine that with a sense of belonging and support, it changes everything for a child.”

Over the past 17 years, the Walk has raised $31 million to date. Among this year’s beneficiaries is the Friendship Campus (The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center) — a first-of-its-kind facility opening in the first half of next year. The $55 million, 62,000-square-foot life center will provide life-changing resources for individuals with special needs. Those resources include vocational training, job placement, and opportunities for students to participate in the workforce and in their communities. The campus will host programs such as a Creative Arts Center, Culinary Institute, Recreation Center, Life Skills programming and early education and mentoring opportunities.

The site will also serve as the new headquarters for the Friendship Foundation, an organization co-founded by Greenberg and Yossi Mintz that offers more than 60 in-person programs across art, music, fitness, sign language, science and other wellness options — all aimed at fostering companionship, while celebrating individuality and promoting acceptance for all with diverse abilities.

According to Kershaw, what Skechers and the Friendship Foundation are doing through the Walk perfectly aligns with the vision of inclusivity and empowerment. “We’ve seen firsthand how education and community can transform lives, and being part of something that continues to work right here in our own backyard means a lot to us,” he said.

Funds from the Walk have also enabled public school education foundation to reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities, and protect teachers’ jobs. And The Skechers Foundation’s national college scholarship program also dedicates a portion of Walk proceeds — it has awarded more than $2.3 million scholarships to date — to students with financial need and proven excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.

In addition to Nickelodeon, the event was also sponsored by businesses and partners that include Rare Beauty, Ted Schwartz Family Foundation, United Legwear & Apparel Co., Big 5 Sporting Goods, TJX Cos., Ross Stores, Amazon, L.A. Dodges, to name a few.

The Skechers Foundation, established in 2010 to help children in need, invests in a global network of charitable organizations dedicated to individuals with diverse abilities and in empowering disadvantaged families. Skechers is a lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories firm. The firm was founded 33 years ago by Greenberg’s father, Robert Greenberg. Its longstanding commitments to philanthropy in its local community and around the world helped it secure the Icon Award for Social Impact at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards last December. This past May, Skechers disclosed that it inked a $9 billion deal to go private with Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital. That deal, the biggest shoe buyout in history, closed last month.