Skechers is teaming up with Kids Foot Locker to kick off the third annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk to raise funds for children with special needs and education on Oct. 30, 2011. The lineup for this year's festivities include fitness expert Denise Austin as host, and guest speakers Dancing with the Stars host Brooke Burke and legendary Hall of Fame baseball manager Tommy Lasorda.

This year, the Skechers Foundation is expecting more than 5,000 people in attendance and anticipating raising more than $500,000 — thanks to the efforts of our generous sponsors, including the presenting sponsor Kids Foot Locker, our friends in the community, and many other local and national businesses.

“We are proud of the amount we have raised this year and the past two years,” began Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “But when you think about all the children in need, it just isn't enough. Working together, we will be able to give more and more children the chance to discover their strengths and passions, build caring relationships, and ultimately succeed.”

Greenberg continued: “We are committed to supporting children with special needs and education. I believe that it is our obligation as parents, business leaders and residents of these amazing South Bay communities to help our schools during these tough times — and to provide assistance to wonderful organizations like The Friendship Circle, which touches the hearts of so many. To have such incredible icons like Denise, Brooke and Tommy as our ambassadors is huge for the walk — as parents, they've taken a personal interest in this cause, and we're deeply honored to have their support as they will bring attention to the plight of our schools as well as create more awareness of The Friendship Circle.”

All of the celebrities share a long history with Skechers: both Brooke Burke and Denise Austin have supported the Company's fitness collections as celebrity endorsees in print and on television, and Tommy Lasorda has been a loyal friend of the brand, joined the Pier to Pier Walk's Board of Directors and attended the event every year.

“The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is one of the greatest projects I have ever been involved with,” stated Tommy Lasorda. “I hope we get more people involved because there is not much more rewarding than doing something for the community. We need more people.”

“My hope is that over time, others across the country can also develop walks like ours,” added Greenberg. “That we can take this idea to hometowns where the schools and programs for children with special needs have been most compromised.”

Traveling from the Manhattan Beach Pier to Hermosa Beach Pier and back, the 3.4-mile Pier to Pier Walk includes performances from local schools and activities for the entire family:

                         Check-in and registration
            a- 8:00am
                         Sponsor exhibitions and Fun Zone activities
                         Opening Ceremonies
            a- 9:00am
                         The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk
                         Walk begins
            a- 10:00am
        The Pier to Pier Walk will also be followed by the 21st annual World Famous Pumpkin Races at Manhattan Beach Pier.

Produced by the Skechers Foundation, The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk directly benefits the education foundations of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, and Torrance, as well as The Friendship Circle, a non-profit organization that assists children with special needs and their families through one-on-one peer mentoring and social recreational programming ( www.gotfriends.com ).

Individuals, families, team leaders and team members can register online at www.skechersfriendshipwalk.com or by mail for $25. Registration at the Manhattan Beach Pier on the morning of the event is $30. Registered participants will receive a commemorative SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk T-shirt and complimentary water and drinks along the walk route. For those who cannot participate, donations will also be accepted until the day of the walk; event sponsors and volunteers are also welcome to participate.

In addition to presenter Kids Foot Locker, sponsors of the 2011 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk include Wells Fargo, Body Glove, Merrill Lynch, Chevron, Ross Stores, Marriott, Premier Displays & Exhibits, Marshalls, United Legwear, Waste Management, Equinox, Shape Magazine, Star Magazine, Union Bank, AT&T and Nestle, among others.