Kids came up with an amazing array of designs for the Legends "Socks that Rock" contest, which drew more than 500 entries from Manhattan Beach, Lawndale, and Richstone Family Center's elementary school-aged students.

Avery Ertman of Pacific Elementary School in Manhattan Beach had the overall winning design with her Van Gogh-inspired nighttime cityscape. Proceeds from the sale of her socks will go toward the Kids Helping Kids program, an initiative of the Manhattan Beach elementary school run clubs that donates socks and shoes to local less fortunate children.

The contest had nine winners altogether (three each from Manhattan Beach, Lawndale, and the Richstone Family Center). The nine winners will be honored with a party at Legends sock headquarters in Gardena on May 1 and they will each receive two pairs of socks with their respective designs.

The three winners from Manhattan Beach were:
TK/1st Grade: Abbey Johnson 7,- Grand View Elementary School
2nd/3rd Grade: Katelynn Husson, 9 - Grand View
4th/5th Grade: Avery Ertman , 11 years - Pacific

Runners up from Manhattan Beach included Anthony Padnos (Grand View), Indy Bauer (Grand View), Mia Garay (Grand View), Karly Olsen (Grand View), Ever Bauer (Grand View), Logan Kwon (Pacific), and Madison Norberg (Pacific).

All five Manhattan Beach elementary schools have free parent-led before-school run clubs. Vicki Tyler, head of the run club at Grand View, came up with the idea of bringing all of the school run clubs together for a "Kids Helping Kids" initiative that donates shoes and socks to local kids in need.

As each child in a Manhattan Beach run club accumulates a marathon distance, they earn the privilege of having a pair of Skechers shoes and Legends socks donated in their name, to a child at a sister school in Lawndale and - new this year - through the Richstone Family Center's after-school program.

"There are 120 families living below the poverty line 10 minutes from our doorsteps here in Manhattan Beach," said Tyler. "We are teaching the Manhattan Beach kids to pay it forward."

This year there will be approximately 200 Manhattan Beach kids who run marathon distances, thus yielding 200 pairs of shoes and socks donated. Sponsors of the program include Skechers, Legends Socks, Kinetca, Manhattan Beach Rotary, Bay Club, and Tempest Free Running Academy.

On May 12, there will be a Kids Helping Kids Pay It Forward party in Lawndale for every Manhattan Beach elementary school child who completed a marathon and earned shoes and socks for another child, as well as the Lawndale recipients and their families. "Running, games, and popsicles are a universal language and a great way for all these kids to meet," said Tyler.