12th Annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk Announces Star-studded Virtual Event to Raise $2 Million for Kids

by Zach | Oct 14, 2020 | Press Release

Oct 14, 2020 • 1:30 pm EDT

Tony Romo, Sugar Ray Leonard, AGT Winner Kodi Lee and More Celebrities Gather Online to Raise Funds for Children with Special Needs, Schools and Scholarships

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk is gathering virtually this year to continue its fundraising campaign for kids during the COVID-19 shutdown: aiming to raise $2 million as it transforms its popular annual beach event into a celebration of its sponsors and community. Hosted by South Bay students and supported by media sponsor NBC4, dozens of stars and more than 100 companies, the event will feature a star-studded lineup of performances and appearances with celebrities like America’s Got Talent winner Kodi Lee, Tony Romo, Sugar Ray Leonard, Matt Kuchar, Brooke Henderson, Howie Long, Brooke Burke, Denise Austin and many more.

Friendship Foundation buddies Marcus and Owen celebrate at last year’s Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. The annual event will be held virtually on Sunday, October 25th, featuring celebrities, sponsors and the community to support children with special needs and education. (Photo: Business Wire)

Friendship Foundation buddies Marcus and Owen celebrate at last year’s Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. The annual event will be held virtually on Sunday, October 25th, featuring celebrities, sponsors and the community to support children with special needs and education. (Photo: Business Wire)

“The Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk has always been about gathering our community to uplift our kids in the face of great obstacles—and there’s no better example of that than this year,” said Michael Greenberg, founder of the Walk. “Since the world came to a standstill, our students and teachers have faced unimaginable challenges as they have had to learn online. For children and teens, especially those with special needs, staying close with friends is important to their development, and these changes have added further stress to them and their families. Our schools and the Friendship Foundation have risen to meet these challenges, finding creative new ways to teach, care and connect—but more funding is needed to help their efforts.”

Added Greenberg: “I’m so heartened by the continued generosity of our dedicated community, sponsors and ambassadors, as well as the support we’ve received from many new celebrities now that this year’s event has gone virtual. In many ways, this is our Walk’s most important year yet.”

“We’ve been a proud sponsor of the Walk for five years—and in this difficult year, we’re more committed than ever to rally for our children,” said Dennis Sullivan, store director for Gelson’s. “It’s crucial that companies like ours step up and help our kids academically, socially and emotionally. The more we give, the stronger they’ll be once the world reopens.”

Donations from the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk support The Friendship Foundation, public schools and scholarship funds for exceptional students. The Friendship Foundation currently offers one-on-one peer visits and social recreational activities online to children with special needs; typical activities include summer camps, sporting event outings and classes such as music, yoga, cooking, art and drama. The event also helps education foundations enhance schools in areas like technology, music, and science; reduce class sizes; update labs, libraries and facilities; and protect teachers’ jobs. To date, the Skechers Foundation’s national scholarship program has donated more than $200,000 to students with financial need and proven excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.

Historically California’s largest event for children with special needs and education, the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk has raised more than $13 million to date for public schools, scholarships and the Friendship Foundation—breaking records every year since its 2009 launch. More than 17,000 registrants participate in the event annually, many of whom will celebrate virtually from home this month and walk through their neighborhoods in tribute.

Additional attendees of this year’s virtual walk include celebrities like Hall of Fame baseball legend Tommy Lasorda, NBC4 investigative reporter Lolita Lopez, actor Dallas Young and singing sensation Malea Emma—with support from Ian Ziering, Jamie Redknapp and numerous YouTube and Disney network stars.

Viewers can register online at skechersfriendshipwalk.com and watch the 12^th annual virtual Walk at the site on Sunday, October 25^th at 10am PST. Participants can also follow the Walk on Facebook (facebook.com/SKECHERSFriendshipWalk), Instagram (instagram.com/skechersp2pwalk) and Twitter (twitter.com/SkechersP2PWalk).

In addition to media sponsor NBC4, the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk thanks all of its sponsors, including United Legwear & Apparel, The CET Foundation, Moose Toys, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Petco Foundation, Steel Sports, Vertra, Chevron, McCarthy Construction, Dakine, Aptos Retail, CAA-GBG, Continental Development, Mattel, Marshalls, WSS, O’Melveny, Halo Life, Suntech and more than 100 other companies who have supported our children.

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.

Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Skechers (NYSE: SKX) 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 3,615 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; 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, 2019 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020. 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.

Jennifer Clay

SKECHERS USA

[email protected]

(310) 937-1326

Source: Skechers Foundation

Skechers Footwear Donations Surpass 16 Million Pairs Through Its BOBS From Skechers Philanthropic Program

by Zach | Oct 6, 2020 | Press Release

Oct 6, 2020 • 9:00 am EDT

Latest Donations Include Footwear for Those Impacted by the California and Oregon Wildfires, Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, and the Beirut Port Explosion

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– With 105,000 pairs of BOBS from Skechers donation clogs en route to Lebanon, Romania and Nicaragua, Skechers has now given more than 16,000,000 new pairs of shoes to children in need globally. Recent donations include footwear and other items to victims of the wildfires in the West, hurricanes in the South, and the port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as planned distributions to economically impacted communities in Greater Toronto, Chicago and New York City.

Skechers has donated more than 16 million new pairs of shoes to children in need globally, including pairs to the United Way – helping homeless families in Santa Cruz’s CZU August Lightning Complex fires in California and Almeda fires in Oregon. Photo Credit: United Way of Santa Cruz County

Skechers has donated more than 16 million new pairs of shoes to children in need globally, including pairs to the United Way – helping homeless families in Santa Cruz’s CZU August Lightning Complex fires in California and Almeda fires in Oregon. Photo Credit: United Way of Santa Cruz County

“At more than 16 million pairs donated, the BOBS from Skechers movement has provided needed footwear to children around the world for nearly a decade,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “This year, entire towns have been decimated in West Coast fires and Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, and families have lost their homes and possessions in the midst of a pandemic. Together with devastated cities like Beirut, it’s critical that we help individuals struggling during these challenging times.”

In partnership with Soles4Souls, Skechers has created multiple outlets for giving—sending the United Way more than 11,000 items such as new shoes, backpacks and socks for homeless families in Santa Cruz’s CZU August Lightning Complex fires in California and Almeda fires in Oregon, and providing more than a thousand pairs of shoes to those severely impacted in St. Charles, Louisiana for distribution through Good 360.

Skechers is also distributing donation shoes to Beirut’s children through nonprofit organization Ahla Fawda with Soles4Souls and Cisco, sending more than 52,000 new pairs to the city for arrival the last week of October. This year alone, the Company has partnered with numerous agencies to support affected communities in Europe, Canada, and Central America.

“Skechers has been a dedicated global partner for many years—and they’re committed to overcoming obstacles like Beirut’s destroyed port to supply goods to children in hard-to-reach areas,” said Buddy Teaster, CEO and president of Soles4Souls. “Their shoes offer a practical way to protect these children’s feet during their day-to-day lives and instill hope in them in a very difficult year.”

Through its BOBS from Skechers program and corporate efforts, the Company has given shoes, goods and monetary relief to victims in numerous natural disasters, including the 2018 California fires and Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma and Maria. The BOBS from Skechers program donates new shoes to children in need in the United States and more than 60 countries worldwide through education foundations, homeless shelters, disaster relief, and 501(c)(3) organizations.

About Skechers USA, Inc.

Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Skechers (NYSE: SKX) 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 3,615 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.

About Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use: providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the organization repurposes product to supply its micro-enterprise, disaster relief, and direct assistance programs. With locations and warehouses across three continents, Soles4Souls has been able to distribute more than 51 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing in 129 countries since 2006. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

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; 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, 2019 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020. 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.

Jennifer Clay
SKECHERS USA
[email protected]
(310) 937-1326

Source: Skechers USA, Inc.

Skechers Elite Runner Edward Cheserek Wins 10K and Sets New PB During Sunset Tour in Los Angeles

by Zach | Aug 31, 2020 | Press Release

Aug 31, 2020 • 9:00 am EDT

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Skechers celebrates 17-time NCAA national champion Edward Cheserek winning the 10K race during the Sunset Tour on Saturday in Los Angeles—his first pro career attempt on the track at this distance. Cheserek, who ran in custom-made prototype Skechers GO RUN track spikes, crossed the finish line first in 27:42, which was 48 seconds faster than his previous best time at this distance set at the 2014 NCAA Championship. This follows his recent victory at the 5K distance with a meet-record time of 13:21 on August 22.

Skechers elite runner Edward Cheserek sets new PB winning the 10K at the Sunset Tour in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Evan Barnes.

Skechers elite runner Edward Cheserek sets new PB winning the 10K at the Sunset Tour in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Evan Barnes.

“It feels great to be racing again after the extended time off during the pandemic, so to find my groove with the 5K win last week and then win my first career pro 10K attempt on the track is even better,” said Edward Cheserek. “I’m thankful for the partnership with Skechers. I asked them for an even lighter race day shoe and they delivered—leading to a new personal best today at this distance six years after the collegiate championships in 2014.”

“Edward continues to be a dominating force in running, and we’re lucky to have him on our team racing in Skechers GO RUN footwear,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “The combination of his power, strength and dedication plus our footwear has given Edward the competitive edge he needs to succeed. We’re proud to be part of his journey as the sport gets back in gear building up to Tokyo next summer.”

Originally from Kenya, Cheserek attended Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in New Jersey, where he was named the Gatorade 2013 National Cross Country Runner of the Year, before choosing to continue his collegiate career at distance running powerhouse, University of Oregon. In 2013, Cheserek became the first freshman in school history to win the NCAA National Cross Country Championships, and would then go on to repeat as cross country champion in his sophomore and junior years. By the end of his collegiate career, Cheserek was the winningest male athlete in NCAA Division I athletics’ history with a combined 17 national championships in cross country plus indoor and outdoor track and field. After going pro in September 2017, he set a new PR in the indoor mile with a win at the 2018 Boston University Valentine Invitational. Wearing custom Skechers GO RUN racing spikes, his time of 3:49.44 placed him at #2 all-time on the world record list for that distance. In April 2019, Cheserek won the Carlsbad 5000 in 13:29, tying the IAAF road world record and achieving a new road 5K personal best.

Since its debut with the first model of Skechers GO RUN worn by Meb Keflezighi in 2012, Skechers Performance footwear has earned respect throughout the running world and won numerous awards within the footwear industry—including 10 editorial awards in 2019 alone.

The entire Skechers GO RUN collection for men and women is available at Skechers retail stores and skechers.com as well as select retail partners.

About Skechers USA, Inc.

Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Skechers (NYSE: SKX) 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 3,615 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; 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, 2019 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020. 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.

Jennifer Clay

Skechers

[email protected]

Source: Skechers USA, Inc.