The 18th Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk Raises $3.3 Million for Kids
Sugar Ray Leonard, Brooke Burke and Nate Simon join baseball icons Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros and Jared Karros to rally
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In its 18th year, the Skechers Foundation, Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk and presenting sponsor Nickelodeon raised a record-breaking $3.3 million for children with special needs and education. Supported by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, celebrity TV host Brooke Burke, actor Nate Simon and baseball icons Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros and Jared Karros, thousands gathered on Sunday for the heartwarming annual tradition of the pier-to-pier walk in Southern California’s South Bay.
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David Weinberg, Brooke Burke, Sugar Ray Leonard, actor Nate Simon, and Robin Curren celebrate the 2026 Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk.
“Our best-ever Sunday wasn’t just an incredible success—it’s the latest in a beautiful story that’s always been all about our kids,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers and co-founder of the Walk, which has raised $35 million to date for children with special needs, public schools, and national college scholarships. “When you look at the numbers—our annual 3.4-mile journey, 18 years running, the tens of thousands who take part in this every year—we have collectively walked more than a million miles, or 40 times around the planet for our youth. As incredible as that is, the impact of seeing our next generation realize the best version of themselves through our support is even more moving. From the tens of thousands of students who have benefited from improved schools and national college scholarships, to the children with special needs and young adults who will soon gather at our world-class Friendship Campus, every step we take shows them that the sky’s the limit.”
“A huge shout-out to our Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon, all of our generous celebrity supporters who have come together for this important cause, and the many dedicated companies, volunteers and more than 24,000 registrants who are putting our kids first and making every day of their lives better.”
The annual Walk benefits the Friendship Campus (The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center)—a $70 million, nearly 62,000-square-foot destination that offers neurodivergent young adults a safe, supportive place that can help them build their independence and find their purpose. Funded by the Skechers Foundation, Friendship Foundation and generous partners, the campus opens its doors on January 21, 2027, with a creative arts studio, culinary institute and recreation center, as well as life skills programming, early education and mentoring that will foster their personal growth while preparing them for meaningful professional opportunities.
The Campus also will serve as the new headquarters for the Friendship Foundation, expanding its reach, programming and impact. Originally serving 30 participants at one school through its original buddy program, the Friendship Foundation now engages with 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 for children with special needs.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk also has had a remarkable impact on education. Through public school education foundations, the event has contributed millions to reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities; and protect teachers’ jobs. A portion of its proceeds regularly support the Skechers Foundation’s national college scholarship program, which has donated more than $3.5 million in scholarships to students with financial need and proven excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.
The Walk featured an array of performers and characters interacting with the crowd—from musical band Full Circle Boys and the Clippers Spirit dance team to Care Bears and beloved Nickelodeon characters SpongeBob + Sandy, Paw Patrol Pups Marshall + Everest, and Tommy + Angelica from Rugrats. Shelter animals were also adopted on site through pet adoptions in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks Presenting Sponsor Nickelodeon and the generous companies and partners committed to changing our children’s lives—including 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, Burlington Stores, 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, BMO, and many more.
Get to know the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk and its growing movement for our children at skechersfriendshipwalk.com, 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 Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 47th 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, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is part of Skydance TV, a flagship division of Skydance Corporation (NYSE: SKYD).
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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