MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — More than 24,000 walkers converged on Southern California's South Bay coastline to raise a record $3.3 million at the 18th annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, organizers confirmed in an October 23 announcement through the National Sporting Goods Association.
Crowds packed the 3.4-mile oceanfront route. The single-day haul marks the largest sum collected in the event's 18-year history, lifting its cumulative fundraising total past $35 million. Organised jointly by the Skechers Foundation and the Friendship Foundation, with Nickelodeon serving as presenting sponsor, the coastal march channels capital directly into public education budgets, special-education infrastructure, and college scholarships.
"Participants have walked more than one million miles," said Skechers president and walk co-founder Michael Greenberg, noting the collective mileage equals circling the globe roughly 40 times.
Beyond immediate classroom aid, the money underwrites the Friendship Campus, officially designated The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center. The $70 million development spans nearly 62,000 square feet and aims to prepare neurodivergent young adults for independent living and employment. Scheduled to open its doors on January 21, 2027, the complex will serve as the permanent headquarters for the Friendship Foundation across Los Angeles County.
Crews are outfitting the facility with specialized instruction hubs. The site will house a creative arts studio, a culinary institute, a recreation center, and specialized early-education and mentoring facilities designed to move students smoothly into professional roles.
The charity's growth has been sharp. What began as a modest buddy program supporting just 30 students at a single campus now reaches more than 5,000 children, participants, and volunteers across nearly 100 schools throughout the county. The operation runs more than 50 monthly programs alongside a six-week summer camp dedicated to children with special needs.
| Project & Financial Metrics | Official Details |
|---|---|
| 2026 Single-Year Fundraising | $3.3 million (Record High) |
| Cumulative 18-Year Total | $35 million |
| Event Attendance | Over 24,000 registrants |
| Course Distance & Footprint | 3.4 miles along South Bay coastline |
| Friendship Campus Capital Outlay | $70 million |
| Campus Facility Area | 62,000 square feet |
A deliberate portion of the proceeds flows straight to public education systems. Through direct pacts with public school education foundations, organizers pump cash into primary and secondary schools to ease municipal budget constraints. The funds trim class sizes, renovate science laboratories, modernize school libraries, overhaul aging buildings, and protect frontline teaching jobs from budget cuts.
A parallel stream funds higher education. The Skechers Foundation national college scholarship program has distributed more than $3.5 million to date, targeting applicants who pair athletic, academic, and leadership merit with severe financial need.
Athletes and television personalities rallied on the sands to boost turnout. Boxing icon Sugar Ray Leonard, television host Brooke Burke, and actor Nate Simon joined the trek alongside professional baseball players Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros, and Jared Karros. Live entertainment featured the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit dance team and musical group Full Circle Boys, while Nickelodeon deployed costumed characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol, and Rugrats alongside an on-site animal adoption pavilion.
With fundraising tallies certified, operations now shift toward construction milestones on the 62,000-square-foot facility, with finishing contractors targeting the January 21, 2027 ribbon-cutting in Los Angeles County.
| Targeted Campus Opening Date |
| January 21, 2027 |
| Total Scholarships Awarded to Date | Exceeds $3.5 million |