LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skechers continues to connect young creatives across the country to the Company’s lifesaving BOBS movement with the second year of its national Skechers Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship. Officially kicking off today, the program engages students as designers to create animal-themed prints for the BOBS collection that build awareness for shelter pets as part of its philanthropic offering.
The second year of the program will include last year’s scholarship winners Maki S. and Teeny N., who will join the judging panel to aid in the selection of the next generation of talent.
Said new student judge Maki, whose rescue pups inspired her winning “Bark ‘n’ Drive” design: “The scholarship I received from Skechers is now helping to fund my current school year—and their mentorship has helped me learn how to take my ideas to a professional level. It's been invaluable to go from designing styles in school to seeing what it takes to create them for consumers—and it was so exciting to get press for the first produced print I’ve ever made.”
“It’s hard to believe that the loss of my best friend Firefly has inspired such an incredible journey of growth in my life,” added Teeny, who designed her winning feline print in honor of her childhood shelter cat. “She meant the world to me—and to see the style she inspired in stores and on animal lovers across the country has been such a profound gift. To join this year’s panel of judges on top of everything we’ve received has made this experience even sweeter. I look forward to seeing more students share their hearts and designs this fall, and to play a role in helping them achieve their dreams, just like Skechers has for us.”
Established to enable young creatives and designers to further their education and help shelter pets through their personal stories, the BOBS from Skechers Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship will select BOBS from Skechers prints designed by two winning college students for production in the 2025 collection. The winners will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship from the Skechers Foundation and one-on-one corporate mentorship sessions.
Skechers’ scholarship program is open to students who are presently enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States and will be enrolled in the 2025/2026 academic year. The application consists of creating a dog- or cat-themed print for a BOBS from Skechers shoe, as well as writing about the design and why the BOBS from Skechers mission is important to them. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2024; winners will be announced in early 2025.
With $11 million donated since 2015, BOBS from Skechers has now helped save and support over 2 million shelter dogs and cats and continues to impact animals through sales of the collection. A supporter of Petco Love’s network of 4,000 animal welfare organizations in the United States, Skechers has given funds to help provide pet adoptions, vaccination events, check celebrations for organizations, and even flight transport for animals to reach future homes.
BOBS from Skechers product is available at Skechers stores and retailers nationwide. For every specially marked item purchased in 2024, a donation is made to support shelter pets and animal welfare organizations in the United States, Canada and select international markets. To learn more, follow BOBS from Skechers on Facebook and Instagram, or visit BOBSfromSkechers.com.
* No purchase necessary. Application period starts September 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (PST) and ends October 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST. Two winners will be chosen; approximate retail value (ARV) of each prize is $10,555 ($21,110 total ARV for both prizes). Full rules can be found at https://my.reviewr.com/site/bobsfromskechersdesignscholarship.
About Skechers U.S.A., Inc.
Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company® based in Southern California, 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 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through skechers.com and approximately 5,200 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
About BOBS® from Skechers®
BOBS from Skechers’ charitable collection of shoes, apparel and accessories have improved animals’ lives: over the past eight years, Skechers has contributed more than $11 million to help over 2 million shelter pets, including saving more than 1.6 million rescued animals in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan. It all started in 2011, when Skechers launched a movement to support children impacted by natural disasters and poverty—a cause that has helped the Company donate more than 16 million new pairs of shoes to kids in more than 60 countries worldwide. To learn more about BOBS from Skechers’ commitment to making a difference, visit BOBSfromSkechers.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.
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