Local News
By Carrie Yamato, Special to the News
Thursday, October 25, 2012 2:09 PM PDT
With
$3 million to raise this year, the Peninsula Education Foundation is
counting on this weekend’s Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Circle Walk
to bring in significant dollars.
“This
is probably one of the biggest checks we will get this year,” said PEF
Executive Director Andrea Sala. “We’ve been involved in the walk since
it started four years ago, and every year the amount we earn grows.”
Last
year, more than 2,000 supporters participated in the 3.4-mile walk
between Manhattan Beach Pier and Hermosa Beach Pier, and it brought it
more than $88,000.
This year, team captain Sala hopes to get at least 3,000 walkers.
“We’ve always had the most walkers, so we’ve gotten the biggest check the last two years,” said Sala. “We want to win again!”
In addition to each walker’s $25 registration fee, PEF receives funds from the event based on the number of actual
and virtual walkers it has on its team. The proceeds go directly to the
school district to help maintain staff, small class sizes and special
programs.
“We don’t know what the formula is [for distributing
the funds], but if you do the math from last year, it’s a significant
amount,” said Sala. “So if you can’t come out, be a virtual walker for
us because we’ll get credit for that as well.”
While funds raised
from the walk benefit education foundations in the South Bay from El
Segundo to Palos Verdes including Torrance, the walk primarily secures
money for the Friendship Circle, a South Bay nonprofit that brings
social and recreational opportunities to special needs kids at schools
and in the community. Regardless of what the education foundations earn,
funds from the walk are specifically allocated to the Friendship
Circle.
Danielle Lindgren, a junior at Palos Verdes High School
and president of PVHS’s Friendship Circle, is hoping to increase
proceeds by enlisting the help of walkers.
“I put posters around
school, handed out brochures and just tried to share my story with
people,” said Lindgren, who has been active with the Friendship Circle
since she was in eighth grade.
Lindgren was even able to convince a few teachers to give students extra credit for walking.
“The teachers realize how important it is to raise money for our schools and the Friendship Circle program,” she said.
Lindgren is looking forward to hitting the Strand with some of her Friendship Circle friends.
“Last
year, I walked with a couple of kids with special needs, and it was a
lot of fun,” she said. “I don’t think of them as my friends with special
needs. We just hang out and have fun. The little things that we take
for granted excite them so much, and I love it.”
This year,
celebrities Tommy Lasorda, Brooke Burke-Charvet and Denise Austin, as
well as local bands and cheer teams, will root for the walkers. There
will also be booths, activities, goodie bags and more.
“The walk
is a fun and wonderful way to come out and enjoy the beautiful ocean
views, get some exercise and participate with the Palos Verdes community
toward a common goal of supporting our schools,” said Sala. “We love
our schools, and we have a lot of community pride, so let’s show that to
the whole South Bay.”
Skechers Pier to Pier Walk will be held
on
Sunday, Oct. 28 at 9 am at the Manhattan Beach Pier. To participate or
to sign up as a virtual walker, log on to
www.skechersfriendshipwalk.com. Click on “register,” then sign up on PEF or your school’s team and designate PEF as the group you want to support.
Carrie Yamato is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to the News.
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