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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 23, 2026) – 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 players Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros and Jared Karros, thousands gathered for the annual tradition of the pier-to-pier walk in Southern California’s South Bay.
“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 Los Angeles 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 thanked 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 and Cushman & Wakefield, BMO.
Skechers founder Robert Greenberg is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. Big 5 Sporting Goods is a long-time NSGA member and Sugar Ray Leonard was a keynote speaker at NSGA’s Leadership Conference in 2016.
