Presented by Kinecta Federal Credit Union,
the Annual Star-Studded Event Has Raised More Than $17 Million
in 13 Years for Children with Special Needs and Education
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk returned to the beach
and broke new records, raising more than $2.6 million for children
with special needs and education. With approximately 17,000
participants, the event was supported by Presenting Sponsor Kinecta
Federal Credit Union as well as over 100 other generous businesses
and partners, and featured appearances by Sugar Ray Leonard, Brooke
Burke, and Meb Keflezighi, plus live performances by Young Selena
singer Madison Taylor Baez, Dance Moms’ GiaNia Paolantonio and He’s
All That actor Gabe DeGuzman.
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Skechers President Michael Greenberg and
Friendship Foundation member Jacob address participants at the 2021
Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk in Manhattan Beach, CA.
(Photo: Business Wire)
“The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is about raising much
needed funds for children with special needs and education, but
today was an event like no other—hearing about the impact of the
joy on the faces of so many friends and family again, it moved me
and truly brought home why we have this annual event,” began
Michael Greenberg, co-founder of the Skechers Pier to Pier
Friendship Walk. “Over the past year, our kids have become more
innovative, creative and determined. I really feel like they’ve
taken a page from our playbook on how to thrive through anything,
the same way we’ve vowed to improve their lives through the
Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk.”
Mr. Greenberg continued: “Huge thanks to Kinecta, all of our
generous sponsors, our celebrities and thousands of participants.
Their sponsorship, contribution and enthusiasm illustrate both a
giving spirit and how much they believe, like I do, that our future
rests in the hands of these bright kids—we just need to provide the
resources so they can be all they can.”
“It was such an honor to take part in this incredible Walk—I
connected with it very personally,” added four-time Olympian and
Boston and New York City Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi. “When I
first came to America as a child, it was at school where I became a
competitive runner—and those early days of training and racing have
inspired every part of my life and have given me opportunities
beyond my greatest dreams. By funding athletics, activities, clubs,
classes, teachers and facilities for all of these children at the
Friendship Foundation and schools, we’re giving this entire
generation a chance to see how big their lives can really be.”
“The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk’s funds have helped
transform the Friendship Foundation from a dedicated community club
to a world-class organization that is redefining possibilities for
children with special needs,” said Yossi Mintz, executive director
of Friendship Foundation. “We’re helping in so many ways—from zoom
pals and friendship clubs at over 40 schools which buddies up
students with special needs to mainstream them with children on
campus, to popular in-person clubs, enrichment classes, sporting
events and our upcoming Friendship Foundation Campus which will
break ground early next year with plans to open in 2023. All
combined, we’re on the cusp of a great new chapter for children and
young adults with special needs to get an education and job
training so that they can be a part of the workforce of our great
country. We’re grateful for how much the Walk has inspired other
children to welcome these wonderful kids into their lives.”
Historically California’s largest event for children with
special needs and education, the 3.5-mile Skechers Pier to Pier
Friendship Walk has raised more than $17 million to date for public
schools, scholarships and the Friendship Foundation—with
approximately 17,000 registrants this year.
Donations from the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk support
The Friendship Foundation and education foundations for public
schools. The Friendship Foundation offers children with special
needs one-on-one peer visits and social recreational activities,
from online gatherings to summer camps, sporting event outings and
classes such as music, yoga, cooking, art and drama. The event also
helps enhance schools, reduce class sizes, update labs, libraries
and facilities as well as protect teachers’ jobs. This year, the
Skechers Foundation’s national scholarship program will donate a
portion of the proceeds to students with financial need and proven
excellence in academics, athletics and leadership, and has awarded
$620,000 to date.
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks its Presenting
Sponsor Kinecta Federal Credit Union, and all of its generous
sponsors, including The CET Foundation, Nickelodeon, Steel Sports,
Steel Partners, McCarthy Building Companies, Vertra, Dakine,
Dreamworks Animation, The MBS Group, Continental Development,
United Legwear & Apparel, Chevron, Moose Toys, Petco Love, Ross
Stores, simplehuman and many more companies who have helped us
support, educate and inspire a generation of children.
To watch this year’s Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk and
learn more about the event, please visit skechersfriendshipwalk.com
or YouTube, and follow the Walk on Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter.
About Skechers
Foundation
The Skechers Foundation was established to provide families
around the world with the necessities and skills to succeed in
life. In addition to organizing the Skechers Pier to Pier
Friendship Walk, 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.
About SKECHERS USA, Inc.
Skechers (NYSE: SKX), The Comfort Technology Company based in
Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range
of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for
men, women and children. The Company’s collections are available in
the United States and over 170 countries and territories via
department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through
4,057 Company- and third-party-owned retail stores and e-commerce
websites. The Company manages its international business through a
network of global distributors, joint venture partners in Asia,
Israel and Mexico, and wholly-owned subsidiaries in Canada, Japan,
India, Europe and Latin America. For more information, please visit
about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
and TikTok.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking
statements may include, without limitation, Skechers’ future
domestic and international growth, financial results and operations
including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new
products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and
international expansion, opening of new stores and additional
expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking language such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,”
“estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will be,” “will
continue,” “will result,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or any
variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected in
forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute
to such differences include the disruption of business and
operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in
our supply chain; international economic, political and market
conditions including the challenging consumer retail markets in the
United States; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and
proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers;
decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order
commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs
and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense
competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in
the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating,
identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends,
consumer demand for the products and the various market factors
described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and
holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or
incorporated by reference in Skechers’ annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2021. More
specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic has had and is currently having
a significant impact on Skechers’ business, financial conditions,
cash flow and results of operations. Forward-looking statements
with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic include, without limitation,
Skechers’ plans in response to this pandemic. At this time, there
is significant uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic, including
without limitation, (i) the duration and extent of the impact of
the pandemic, (ii) governmental responses to the pandemic,
including how such responses could impact Skechers’ business and
operations, as well as the operations of its factories and other
business partners, (iii) the effectiveness of Skechers’ actions
taken in response to these risks, and (iv) Skechers’ ability to
effectively and timely adjust its plans in response to the rapidly
changing retail and economic environment. Taking these and other
risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into
consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that
what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and
as a result, actual results could differ materially from those
contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included
here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive
and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to
time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess
the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent
to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties,
you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements
as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results
should not be considered an indication of future performance.
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Jennifer Clay SKECHERS USA jennc@skechers.com (310) 937-1326
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