The Skechers Foundation set a $1.2 million fundraising goal for the 2015 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk that will take place on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Building upon last year’s record-breaking $1.1 million that was raised to support children with special needs and education, celebrities including boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard will join television host and actress Brooke Burke-Charvet and legendary Hall of Fame baseball manager Tommy Lasorda for the Walk’s opening ceremony celebration, which begins at 9 AM at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
“When we organized the first Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk in 2009, I never imagined how large this event could grow and how life-changing it would become for thousands of families,” said Skechers President Michael Greenberg. “With the help of our generous sponsors, including presenting sponsor Nickelodeon, it has become the largest walk in Southern California that supports children with special needs and education. It truly warms my heart to see the community join together every year to make a difference and build a better future for our children.”
To help the Skechers Foundation reach its $1.2 million fundraising goal, the #P2PSteelSports Selfie Challenge, which raised an additional $25,000 at last year’s Walk, will be returning for the 2015 event. Created by Walk sponsor Steel Sports, the challenge encourages participants to take a selfie photo at the Walk and upload to their Instagram, Facebook or Twitter account with the #P2PSteelSports hashtag. For each photo posted, Steel Sports will make an additional $5 donation towards the Walk’s fundraising total. The challenge begins at 8 AM on the morning of the Walk and participants will have 24 hours to post their photos to receive a donation credit.
Warren Lichtenstein, chairman and CEO, Steel Partners LLC, commented, “We are proud to support the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk with the Steel Sports Selfie Challenge, plus a new hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activity that allows children to build their own rockets provided by the real rocket scientists at one of our portfolio companies, Aerojet Rocketdyne. This event is a great way to stimulate children’s interests in space and science in a family-fun environment, while at the same time raising money for an important cause.”
Since its inception in 2009, the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk has raised over $4 million to support education foundations which utilize the funds to upgrade school technology and science labs, improve libraries and music programs, reduce class sizes and help save teachers’ jobs. The Walk also provides critical funding for The Friendship Circle an organization that assists children with special needs and their families through one-on-one peer mentoring and social recreational programming including field trips, summer camps and music classes.
With more than 11,000 participants attending the 2014 Walk, Skechers is anticipating an even larger turnout at the 2015 event. The 3.4-mile route will begin at the Manhattan Beach Pier, traveling to the Hermosa Beach Pier and back. To register or make a donation, visit skechersfriendshipwalk.com.
In addition to headlining sponsor Nickelodeon, the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk sponsors include: Wells Fargo, Steel Sports, South Bay Vein and Laser Group, The Claudette and Ethan Rickett Care Foundation, Ross, Zappos.com, Tour de Pier, DIRECTV, United Legwear & Undwear Co., Body Glove, Kids Foot Locker, United Legwear, JAKKS Pacific, Marshalls, Cushman & Wakefield, Caskey & Caskey, Siltanen & Partners Advertising, Continental Development, Northrop Grumman, Equinox, Chevron and many others who have provided funds and support to provide a better future for children.
