Friendship Campus Announces $30M Endowment Fund, Celebrates Construction Milestone with Topping-Off Ceremony
2024年5月11日 - 12:05AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
President of Skechers and the Skechers
Foundation/Friendship Foundation Co-Founder Michael Greenberg,
Redondo Beach Councilwoman Paige Kaluderovic, Gensler Co-CEO Andy
Cohen and Friendship Foundation Board Member Mike Kaplan led city,
business, and education leaders commemorate completion of
structural framing
The Friendship Foundation (FF), dedicated to elevating the lives
of those with varying abilities for 17+ years, announced a $30
million Friendship Campus Endowment Fund with a $20 million
commitment from Mike & Rose Kaplan and Charlie & Joanne
Kaplan. Their donations include a $10 million gift from Mike &
Rose with an additional $10 million-matching grant from Charlie
& Joanne for every dollar donated to the Endowment Fund moving
forward to reach the $30 million target. The new Fund was announced
at the “Topping Off” Ceremony celebrating the structural completion
of the Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center for
intellectually and physically diverse students on Wednesday, May 8.
City, education and business leaders came together to sign the
final beam supporting the Campus and celebrate this important
milestone. An anonymous donor inspired all in attendance with a
surprise $3 million contribution toward the matching Endowment Fund
grant, bringing the committed total to $23 million with $7 million
to be raised.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240510724749/en/
Charlie (l) and Mike (r) Kaplan sign the
Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center final beam
celebrating the end of structural framing on May 8, 2024. The
brothers announced a $20 million contribution toward the $30
million Endowment Fund created to help with operating expenses when
the Campus opens in late 2025. (Photo: Business Wire)
President of Skechers and the Skechers Foundation, and
Friendship Foundation co-founder Michael Greenberg; Redondo Beach
councilwoman Paige Kaluderovic; Gensler co-CEO Andy Cohen and FF
board member Mike Kaplan led other VIPs and leaders in writing
inspirational words of hope and joy on the final steel beam
supporting the Friendship Campus and commemorating completion of
structural framing.
“The Friendship Campus Endowment Fund is not just a fund – it’s
the gateway to a brighter future for all,” said Mike Kaplan. “With
boundless enthusiasm it kicks off an incredible journey toward
ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities or
socio-economic background, has the chance to chase their dreams and
showcase their extraordinary talents. Let’s ignite the spirit of
inclusivity and opportunity together!”
Said Michael Greenberg: “We are creating a unique and highly
needed destination for neurodivergent youth as they age out of our
educational system—Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers
Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will be the first of its
kind in our country. This Campus is the natural next step in our
children’s journey with the Friendship Foundation, which has helped
them transform from individuals with limited resources to
specialized programs that meet their needs. From our initial
meetings a few years ago to celebrating the framework of our future
Campus, the Greenbergs and the Skechers family are proud to come
together with esteemed members of the Friendship Foundation, the
Kaplan family who has generously donated much-needed funds, and our
community to make this dream a reality.”
The innovative Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers
Center will include a 62,000-square-foot facility to develop an
engaging and inviting environment for the entire community. The
brainchild of the Friendship Foundation and its co-founder Yossi
Mintz, the educational and vocational Campus will focus on serving
the whole individual with talent and skill building; personal
growth and development programs; social and emotional wellness;
healthy lifestyle habits and physical fitness; and job training and
exploration programs. Construction began in February of 2023 at 850
S. Inglewood Ave. in Redondo Beach and is expected to be complete
by Fall 2025. The campus will offer innovative vocational programs
for postsecondary students who are intellectually and physically
diverse, which will be the cornerstone of the new 3.25-acre
state-of-the-art Campus. Vocational exploration, training, and
placement will fuel the need to assist individuals discover their
unique abilities and to successfully fulfill their purpose and
dreams while gaining independence in the community. Construction
partners for the Friendship Campus include general contractor
Project Delivery Group (PDG); architectural and design firm
Gensler; construction management consultants Gardiner &
Theobald; and brand strategists Saatchi & Saatchi.
“We’re so thankful to the Kaplan families for their incredible
generosity and commitment to neurodiverse individuals with this new
Endowment Fund,” said Yossi Mintz, FF Executive Director and
Co-Founder. “The support of our community’s education, civic and
business leaders with symbolic words of encouragement on our final
beam add to the ongoing financial and resource support that make
this dream a reality. What began as a single Friendship Club 17
years ago, has now grown to 76 Clubs in 22 school districts, more
than 60 monthly programs, summer and adaptive athletic camps and
now our Friendship Campus coming next year.”
More detailed information on the Friendship Campus offerings can
be found here.
A comprehensive list of VIPs in attendance at the Topping Off
ceremony included:
- Yossi Mintz, Friendship Foundation (FF) Executive Director and
Co-Founder
- Michael Greenberg, Skechers President/FF Co-Founder
- Jim Light, Mayor of Redondo Beach
- Joe Franklin, Mayor of Manhattan Beach
- Paige Kaluderovic & Zein Obagi, Redondo Beach
Councilmembers
- Mike Kaplan, Chairman Lakeshore Learning and FF Board
Member
- Portia Cohen, Josef Gorowitz, John Pollitt, Jerry Katz, Alyse
Zwickel, FF Board Members
- Dr. Nicole Wesley, RBUSD Superintendent
- Raymur Flynn & Rachel Nemeth, Redondo Beach Unified School
District Board Members
- Dr. John Bowes, MBUSD Superintendent
- Hilary Mahan, MBEF, Executive Director
- Cathey Graves, President MBUSD Board
- John Gallo, Project Delivery Group, GC
- Andrew Demming, Gardiner & Theobald, Senior Director
- Andy Cohen, Gensler, Global Co-Chair
- Joe Lowzowski, Tangram Interiors President/CEO
- Kurt Ritter, Former Chairman/CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, Team
One USA
- Richard Lundquist, Continental Development President
- Bo Kaplan, Lakeshore Learning, CEO
- Lee Canter, world-renowned education author
- Harris & Linda Toibb
- Anita Bhatia, Ramesh & Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation,
Executive Director
- Larry Miller, Sit’n Sleep President
- Latrice McGlothin, Executive Director, Kinecta Community
Foundation Kinecta Federal Credit Union
- Heather Birdsall, Los Angeles Chargers Foundation, Executive
Director
- Jon Hirshberg, JR286, President/CEO
About Friendship
Foundation
The Friendship Foundation is dedicated to building an
integrated, accepting and unified community for our children and
young adults. It was founded 15 years ago by Yossi Mintz, Michael
Greenberg, and Adam Carroll with the goal of providing neurodiverse
children with those with varying abilities the same advantages as
their peers to enjoy and experience life. The organization has
developed programs that allow all children to play, grow, develop
and thrive together. The Friendship Foundation currently operates
76 school-sanctioned Friendship Clubs in 22 school districts; 60+
monthly programs for ages 8-35+; social and life skills classes
including athletics and wellness, social and life skills classes
and fieldtrips, cooking and gardening, arts, drama, and vocal,
financial empowerment, and science; a six-week summer camp with 150
weekly participants and student volunteers; and adaptive
peer-to-peer athletic camps in basketball, soccer, football, and
tennis. The success and growing demand from the Foundation’s
existing programs have expanded the vision to include an innovative
new campus centered around turning special needs into special
contributions to society. Follow Friendship Foundation at
https://www.instagram.com/thefriendshipfoundation/ and
https://www.facebook.com/FFsouthbay/.
About Skechers
Foundation
Established in 2010 to help children in need, the Skechers
Foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities to ensure the
health, success and well-being of youth worldwide. We invest in a
global network of charitable organizations dedicated to embracing
individuals with diverse abilities, improving education, empowering
disadvantaged families and providing humanitarian, disaster and
economic relief. By supporting millions through our products and
services, we aspire to make a valiant effort in creating stronger,
self-sufficient individuals for future generations.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240510724749/en/
Leasa Ireland LPI Communications 310.750.7082
leasa@lpicommunications.com