Thousands Flock to Manhattan Beach for Skechers Friendship Walk
Oct 20, 2025 08:34PM ● By MB News Staff
(The 2025 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. Photo credit: Evelyn Schmitt.)
It was a Sunday for the books as tens of thousands flocked to downtown Manhattan Beach for the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk.
As of press time, the walk had raised $2,563,438, surpassing its original goal of $2.5 million.
(Howie Mandel, Brooke Burke, Rabbi Yossi Mintz of the Friendship
Foundation, Clayton Kershaw, Michael Greenberg of Skechers, Robin Curren
of the Skechers Foundation, Amanda Villapando. Photo via Skechers Friendship Walk.)The Friendship Walk, now
in its 17th year, has become California’s largest event of its
kind, drawing an estimated 22,000 participants and raising millions to support children with special needs, public
schools, and national college scholarships.
The walk also supports the future Friendship Campus—a 60,000 sq.-ft. life skills center (set to open in 2026) that will
provide vocational training, job placement for students with special needs.
Participants walked from the Manhattan Beach Pier to the Hermosa Beach Pier and back, with local cheerleaders and bands boosting spirits along the way. The event finished with an expo/celebration with giveaways and treats sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
(Clayton Kershaw with members of the Manhattan Beach City Council)This year, in addition to celebrity endorser Brooke Burke and various Nickelodeon stars, Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw made a special appearance to cheer on the walkers.
