Exclusive: Skechers’ Michael Greenberg Reflects on Pier to Pier Friendship Walk’s 15th Anniversary
Skechers’ annual Pier to Pier Friendship Walk made waves this year, thanks to the work of the shoe brand’s Skechers Foundation and the Friendship Foundation. For their 2023 run in Southern California, the duo raised over $3 million — exceeding their initial $2.5 million goal — to provide funds towards peer-to-peer mentorships, education programs and more for children with special needs.
“It’s the community and the surrounding communities that really are the ones that care about our kids so deeply,” Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers USA, exclusively told FN. “77 schools are a part of receiving the proceeds from these walks in the 15 years [where] $24 million dollars has been raised. So an astonishing amount of money.”
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Similarly to past Friendship Walks, the 2023 event’s funds contributed to Skechers’ ongoing vocational skills campus for young adults with special needs. Greenberg revealed the brand just broke ground on the 64,000-square-foot school, which Skechers is continuing to raise money for. This year’s Walk was aided by star power from Mr. T, Amanda Kloots and Brooke Burke, emphasizing Skechers’ ties to pop culture — which have expanded this year from its star-studded collaborations.
“It’s about culture. It’s about music. It’s about creatives,” Greenberg said of Skechers’ roster of collaborators. “We want people to really want to do it. You can give anybody a paycheck, but we want their heart and soul in it — and a partnership with Snoop [Dogg] and with Martha [Stewart] have been…they’re so passionate, it’s been wonderful.”
Greenberg also took the time to reflect on Skechers’ ongoing success in the shoe market, as well as the importance of hard work — which has earned him this year’s Person of the Year award at the 2023 Footwear News Achievement Awards.
“We do have the greatest team of talent in our organization that we’ve built over the last 31 years that I couldn’t be more proud of,” Greenberg said. “They are so on top of it. They work hard.”
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Skechers
Skechers’ Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is hosted by Skechers and the nonprofit Friendship Foundation, creating an outdoor walk that raises funds for children with special needs to receive peer-to-peer mentorship, education programs and recreational activities. Since 2010, the partners have raised over $24 million towards their cause.
This interview was conducted by Senior Digital Editor Charlie Carballo and transcribed by Digital Editor Aaron Royce.
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