Skechers Gives Back to Community

Updated: Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, 4:05 p.m. to add Brantley Watson as an additional author and make other minor changes.

Despite a tumultuous fourth quarter of 2011, Skechers Footwear, based in Manhattan Beach, is still doing its part to support the local community.

After reporting a loss of nearly $60 million in the last three months of 2011, Skechers recently donated $409,000 to six local school districts, as well as the Friendship Circle, based in Redondo Beach.

Manhattan Beach schools received $47,000 via the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and the Friendship Circle received $209,000 for its programs. The Friendship Circle is a Southern California-based non-profit organization that assists families with special needs children.

Proceeds were raised in the Friendship Walk, an annual fundraising event held in October that consists of a pier-to-pier, 3.4-mile walk to encourage families and businesses to support local children.

Students in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District participated in the walk, and MBUSD was one of six school districts presented with a donation at the Skechers Corporate building in Manhattan Beach on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Companies such as Wells Fargo, Kids Foot Locker and Chevron sponsored last year's Friendship Walk.