SKECHERS AIMS TO RAISE $3 MILLION IN DONATIONS FOR KIDS AT 18TH ANNUAL PIER TO PIER FRIENDSHIP WALK
Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon, Howie Mandel, Brooke Burke, Sugar Ray Leonard and more unite with Skechers Foundation for California’s largest walk of its kind, benefiting children with special needs, schools and scholarships—creating opportunities for the next generation.
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 13, 2026 – The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk returns for its 18th year on Sunday, October 18, for a day filled with kindness, love, and inclusion with Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon, Howie Mandel, Brooke Burke, Sugar Ray Leonard, and more to raise $3 million for children with special needs, public schools and national college scholarships. This year’s Walk comes at a milestone moment as the Friendship Campus in Redondo Beach, California prepares to open in January 2027, creating a future where every individual can belong, learn and thrive.
“Thanks to the Walk, we have had 18 years of positive change in our community—from seeing the Friendship Foundation flourish to improving our public schools and helping students pursue their college dreams. Now, the Friendship Campus is taking that impact to an entirely new level,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers and co-founder of the Walk, which has raised more than $32 million to date for children. “We’re creating a first-of-its-kind center where neurodivergent young adults who once had few options after high school can continue their journey, build independence and find their purpose. The Friendship Campus will create a culture of hope, opportunity and belonging—a safe, supportive place where they can be encouraged, inspired and realize their potential.”
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| Howie Mandel, Brooke Burke, Yossi Mintz and Friendship Foundation kids, Clayton Kershaw and family, Michael Greenberg, Robin Curren, and Amanda Summer Villapando at the 2025 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. Photo credit: Getty Images for Skechers |
“Through our Friendship Campus and annual Walk, we are writing the book on what empathy, generosity and compassion can look like when put into action—and how a community coming together can create meaningful change that resonates across generations. Our hope is that what we’re building here can serve as a blueprint for communities everywhere to help all of our youth thrive.”
Planned for completion next month with a grand opening set for January 21, 2027, the Friendship Campus (The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center) is a $70 million, nearly 62,000-square-foot destination dedicated to supporting young adults with special needs. Funded by the Skechers Foundation, Friendship Foundation and generous partners, the campus features a creative arts studio, culinary institute and recreation center, as well as life skills programming, early education and mentoring. Through hands-on learning, workplace practices and skill development, the campus will foster personal growth while preparing for meaningful professional opportunities.
Over 19 years, the Friendship Foundation has grown from serving just 30 participants at one school through its Buddy Program to reaching more than 5,000 students, participants and volunteers across Los Angeles County—partnering with nearly 100 schools, facilitating over 50 monthly programs, and providing a six-week summer camp. The Foundation’s new headquarters at the Friendship Campus will significantly expand the organization’s reach, programming and impact.
The Walk also has made a transformative impact on public education, providing critical funding to education foundations to help reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities; and protect teachers’ jobs. Since 2017, the Skechers Foundation’s national college scholarship program has also contributed a portion of the event’s proceeds to students with financial need and proven excellence in academics, athletics and leadership; to date, the program has donated more than $3.5 million in scholarships.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk will feature a performance by Full Circle Boys and appearances by Clippers Spirit, as well as the Care Bears and beloved Nickelodeon characters, SpongeBob + Sandy, Paw Patrol Pups Marshall + Everest, and Tommy + Angelica from Rugrats, who will mingle with the crowd throughout the event. This year’s festivities will also include a pet adoption fair in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society.
In addition to Howie Mandel, Brooke Burke and Sugar Ray Leonard, the Walk has been supported by celebrities, entertainers and athletes over the years including Martha Stewart, Mr. T, Amanda Kloots, Howie Long, Meb Keflezighi, Jimmy Kimmel, Denise Austin and Camila Alves-McConaughey—as well as dozens of Young Hollywood stars from Nickelodeon, Disney, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu, including Logan Shroyer, Lily Brooks O’Briant and more.
The 2026 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon, Rare Beauty, Ted Schwartz Family Foundation, Steel Sports, Mattel, United Legwear & Apparel Co., StandStrong,
Big 5 Sporting Goods, TJX Companies, Chevron, Bank of America, Fossil Group, Ross Stores, Barco, Dakine, Vertra, Legends, Honda, Amazon, KPMG, Kinecta, Moose Toys, Waiakea, L.A. Dodgers, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Chargers, Providence Little Company of Mary, Angels Baseball, Continental Development, Serta, F&M Bank, Herbalife, WSS, Topgolf, Beach Cities Health District, Olipop, Cushman & Wakefield, and BMO, and the many companies and community partners whose support helps make the annual event possible.
Sponsors, walkers and virtual participants can sign up in person at the event or online at skechersfriendshipwalk.com. Follow the Walk on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
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 Paramount+
Paramount+ is the global flagship streaming home of premium original series and entertainment from some of the most enduring brands in television to subscribers around the world. Drawing on decades of beloved IP, Paramount+ also features a diverse offering of live sports, feature films, news and series from across the Paramount portfolio including CBS hits like Marshals and Tracker, all BET Original Series, the Avatar animated universe from Nickelodeon and more. It is a key pillar of the Direct-to-Consumer division at Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), whose portfolio spans Paramount Pictures, Pluto TV, and Skydance Animation, Games and Sports divisions. For more information, visit www.paramount.com.
About Skechers U.S.A., Inc.
Skechers, Where Comfort is a Technology™, is based in Southern California and designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Skechers collections are available in approximately 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through skechers.com and more than 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.
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