The Skechers Foundation and Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon partnered with Brooke Burke, Sugar Ray Leonard and nearly 22,000 registrants to support children with special needs and education
The 2024 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk broke all fundraising and attendance records in its 16-year history—blowing past its $2.5 million fundraising goal to raise more than $3.4 million for kids. Together with returning presenting sponsor Nickelodeon, Brooke Burke, Sugar Ray Leonard and nearly 22,000 registrants, last Sunday’s event reached a new Walk milestone—raising more than $27 million to date for children with special needs, public schools and national college scholarships.
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Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk co-founder Michael Greenberg celebrates with nearly 22,000 registrants at its largest-ever event for children with special needs and education in Manhattan Beach, CA. (Photo: Business Wire)
“Like so many memorable sweet 16 celebrations, this year was one for the ages—all thanks to our incredible co-sponsor Nickelodeon, generous companies and passionate community,” said Michael Greenberg, co-founder of the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. “It takes a village to raise a child—and our village has nurtured this event from an enthusiastic neighborhood movement to one of California’s most impactful walks for youth—one that just keeps getting bigger and having a greater and greater impact on our kids.”
Greenberg continued: “Every year, we take this day to rally for our children—and every other day of the year, they’re experiencing its impact: from building new memories at our thriving Friendship Foundation and public schools, to building dreams as we deliver a new year of scholarships to our talented students and construct our world-class Friendship Campus to transform the lives of young neurodiverse adults. We’re so grateful for Nickelodeon, committed supporters like Kinecta, and the many other companies and thousands of volunteers and families who keep putting our kids first.”
“In all of the years I’ve supported this event, I’ve never seen anything like this. This year’s energy and excitement was on another level,” added Brooke Burke, who joined the Walk for the 13th time. “It’s really hit a point where every participant is now as deeply engaged and invested in the Walk as its founders. Everyone has seen the incredible good this has done for an entire generation of children, and they’re taking its message to the streets—bringing new friends and families to support this great cause.”
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk’s donations support the future Friendship Campus (The Greenberg Family / Skechers Center)—a $55 million, 3.25-acre campus that will offer a life-changing community for friendship and learning. Slated to open its doors in 2026, 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.
The Campus will also house the new headquarters for the Friendship Foundation, which offers companionship, celebrates uniqueness and encourages acceptance for all with diverse abilities. The organization offers 60+ in-person programs such as art, music, fitness, sign language, science, social emotional wellness and yoga, as well as pop-up programs like virtual scavenger hunts and talent shows that are free for anyone to attend locally and across the United States.
Academically, Walk funds have enabled public school education foundations to reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities; and protect teachers’ jobs. The Skechers Foundation’s national college 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.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk included appearances by Dani Bowman, Abbey Romeo, David Isaacman, Subodh Garg and Jake Woodruff from the show Love on the Spectrum and the cast of Greenwood Grove; performances from Homescool and Raized Wrong; America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner Madison Taylor Baez; and a pet adoption event in partnership with Petco Love and The Lovejoy Foundation.
In addition to Brooke Burke and Sugar Ray Leonard, the Walk has long been supported by many celebrities and athletes, including Mr. T, Amanda Kloots, Tony Romo, Howie Long, Meb Keflezighi, Jimmy Kimmel, Denise Austin, Kelly Brooke, Ellen K, Camila Alves-McConaughey, and dozens of Young Hollywood celebrities from Nickelodeon, Disney, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu, including Logan Shroyer, Lily Brooks O’Briant and more.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon and all of its sponsors, including Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Rare Beauty, Schwartz Family Foundation, Steel Sports, Mattel, United Legwear & Apparel Co., Stand Strong, Team One, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Petco Love, TJX Companies, Chevron, Bank of America, Ross Stores, Barco, Dakine, Vertra, Fossil Group, KPMG, LA Kings, LA Dodgers, McCarthy, LA Angels, Continental Development, Morgan’s Jewelers, WSS, Top Golf, Turkish Airlines, Beach Cities Health District, Raising Cane’s, Cushman & Wakefield and many more companies dedicated to supporting our children.
Interested participants can learn more about the 2024 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk and future events at skechersfriendshipwalk.com and on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About Skechers Foundation
Established in 2010 to help children in need, the Skechers Foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities to ensure the health, success and well-being of youth worldwide. We invest in a global network of charitable organizations dedicated to embracing individuals with diverse abilities, improving education, empowering disadvantaged families and providing humanitarian, disaster and economic relief. By supporting millions through our products and services, we aspire to make a valiant effort in creating stronger, self-sufficient individuals for future generations.
About Skechers USA, Inc.
Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company’s collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through skechers.com and approximately 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 45th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.
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