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The 18th Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk Raises $3.3 Million for Kids

SKYD
  • The 18th annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk raised a record-breaking $3.3 million on Sunday for children with special needs & education in Southern California.
  • Total funds raised since the event's inception now exceed $35 million, supporting public schools, college scholarships, & neurodivergent youth.
  • Celebrity supporters included Sugar Ray Leonard, Brooke Burke, Nate Simon, Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros, & Jared Karros alongside thousands of participants.
  • The Friendship Campus, a $70 million facility for neurodivergent young adults, is scheduled to open on January 21, 2027, in the South Bay.
  • The new campus will serve as the Friendship Foundation headquarters & feature creative arts, culinary institutes, recreation centers, & life skills programming.
  • The Friendship Foundation has expanded from serving 30 students to engaging over 5,000 participants across nearly 100 schools in Los Angeles County.
  • Event proceeds have reduced class sizes, updated school facilities, protected teacher jobs, & provided over $3.5 million in national college scholarships.
  • The 3.4-mile walk featured performances by Full Circle Boys, the Clippers Spirit, & Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob, Paw Patrol, & Rugrats.
  • Over 24,000 registrants participated in the event, which also facilitated shelter animal adoptions in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society.
  • Presenting sponsor Nickelodeon & numerous corporate partners including Rare Beauty, Mattel, Chevron, & major sports franchises supported the initiative.