Skechers Friendship Walk Aims to Raise $2.5 Million
Oct 14, 2024 09:10PM ● By Mb News Staff
Friendship Walk Founder and Skechers President Michael Greenberg talks with friend Jacob at the 2022 event. Photo credit: Ian Logan Photography.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, now in its 16th year, has grown exponentially each year in its effort to raise money for children with special needs, public schools, and college scholarships.
For 2024, the event is aiming to break fundraising records
for the fourth consecutive year, with an ambitious goal of
$2.5 million.
The walk will take place at the Manhattan Beach Pier on Sunday, October 20, with activities beginning at 8:00 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., walkers head to the Hermosa Beach Pier, then return back to the Manhattan Beach Pier for more fun and festivities.
Walkers seek donations to raise money for The Friendship Foundation’s ongoing programming for children with special needs, as well as local education foundations. Registration is $30 per walker before the walk, and $35 on the day of the walk.
This year, Skechers is joining forces with Nickelodeon for a star-studded "Sweet 16" anniversary event, featuring celebrities such as Brooke Burke and the cast of
Love on the Spectrum,
The event will also feature an adopt-a-pet center, sponsored by Petco Love and
The Lovejoy Foundation, to be held Skechers Apparel store at 228 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Skechers is offering a free public
shuttle from two remote parking lots for those attending the event on
Sunday. The shuttle will run continuously from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from
two separate lots: Northrop Grumman Parking Lot “R2” at one Space Park Drive in Redondo Beach, and Kinecta Federal Credit Union at 1440 Rosecrans Ave. in Manhattan Beach.
Funds Raised for Kids, Schools
Donations from the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk support
The Friendship Foundation and education foundations for local public schools.
The funds that have been raised are helping to build the future Friendship Campus (The Greenberg
Family / Skechers Center)—a $55 million, 3.25-acre campus that will
offer the nearly 200,000 special education students across Los Angeles
Country a special community for friendship
and learning. Planned for completion by year-end 2025, the facility
will include numerous vocational programs including a Creative Arts
Center, Culinary Institute, Recreation Center, Life Skills programming,
and early education and mentoring opportunities,
giving young adults the tools to transition to the workforce and find
lifelong passion and purpose.
Through its donations to local education foundations such as the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, the walk has also helped enhance school facilities; reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities; and protect teachers’ jobs.
The Skechers Foundation’s national scholarship program also gives a
portion of Walk proceeds to students with financial need and proven
excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership, donating more than
$1.1 million in scholarships to date.
Event Began in 2009
The event was created in 2009 by a group of parents and friends who wanted to create an opportunity give children more access to programs, higher
education, and friendship for every ability.