Skechers Foundation raises record fund for CSR program

04 Mar '14

3 min read

The SKECHERS Foundation celebrated its fifth annual SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk with a check presentation ceremony on Thursday, February 27 at the Company’s world headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California.

The Foundation presented its largest donation totals in the history of the walk: $318,000 for The Friendship Circle – a non-profit organization that assists children with special needs and their families – and $492,000 dedicated to six education foundations.

“Donation funds from the SKECHERS Foundation have helped expand our current programs, including Camp Got Friends – a two-week summer retreat which serves 90 children with special needs”

“I am taken aback by the amount of support we have received from presenting sponsor Nickelodeon and dozens of national corporations including Steel Partners, Wells Fargo, Chevron and many more,” said SKECHERS president Michael Greenberg.

“Because of them, the help of celebrity supporters Jimmy Kimmel, Brooke Burke-Charvet and Tommy Lasorda, plus over 10,000 walkers, we were able to surpass our fundraising goal for the fifth consecutive year. It’s amazing to have raised $1 million and make such a sizable donation to both The Friendship Circle and education.”

The Friendship Circle (gotfriends.com) unites children with special needs and teen volunteers through one-on-one peer mentoring and social recreational activities, creating emotional bonds that improve the lives of kids and their families.

“Donation funds from the SKECHERS Foundation have helped expand our current programs, including Camp Got Friends – a two-week summer retreat which serves 90 children with special needs,” said Yossi Mintz, executive director of The Friendship Circle. “With SKECHERS’ support, we have nearly doubled our monthly programs and will be able to increase sports and after-school enrichment activities through our 30 clubs for The Friendship Circle members.”

The SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk has become California’s largest charity event supporting children with special needs and education. Since its inception in 2009, the walk has united 34,000 participants and raised nearly $3 million to support The Friendship Circle and education foundations committed to saving teachers’ jobs, retaining vital academic programs, maintaining smaller class sizes, improving libraries and upgrading school technology.

The SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is an extension of the SKECHERS Foundation, an organization that was founded to provide families around the world with the necessities and skills to succeed in life. Specifically, the SKECHERS Foundation funds tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide education and job training, shoes, clothing, fitness and nutrition guidance to communities in need.

The SKECHERS Foundation also develops community and after-school programs for local students, including classes with SKECHERS shoe designers held at the SKECHERS corporate headquarters in Manhattan Beach.

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