Young Florence Professionals strut in Tux and Chuck Taylors

Anyone who has ever thought of throwing on a pair of sneakers with their most chic formal gown would have been among friends Thursday at the inaugural Young Professionals of Florence gala.

The Carolina First Tux and Chucks Gala Celebration was unlike any other formal event, with more than 200 twenty- and thirty-somethings — some strutting around in tuxedos with long colorful socks and their favorite pair of Nike Airs.

The whole idea of the gala was to host a fun but relaxed event for the business men and woman of Florence, said Eric Belk, social committee chair for the young professionals

“It gives our members the option to dress up and at the same time be creative with their attire,” Belk said. “You really see a lot of people’s personalities shine through their dress.”

Young Professionals of Florence Board of Directors member John Turner coined the gala’s theme and came up with the original concept of pairing Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers with Tuxedos.

The purpose of the civic group is to connect all young professionals in the area and allow them to enhance their leadership and grow business relationships, Belk said.

“A lot of times, (young people) go off to college and they get to experience something different,” he said.

It can be difficult socially and professionally for a young person returning or moving to the area, Belk said.

“They don’t have a way to reconnect with their peers who are going through the same thing. We want them to feel more happy and satisfied with their community,” he said

Never mind the word “young” in the organization’s name, Belk said. The term is relative, and the group is open to people of all ages.

“Everybody is young at heart,” he said.

The open-door policy was apparent at the Tux and Chucks gala where fresh-faced college graduates rubbed shoulders and laughed over drinks with retirees.

“It’s not a formal; we wanted to make it laid back and low-key,” Belk said “That’s how you make members enthusiastic. Our (free) monthly socials have been some of the best times we’ve ever had in our young life times.”

The average age among the 700 strong young professionals is between 26 and 28.

But the first Young Professional of the Year, Florence attorney Ed Love, is just a tad older.

Thirty-one-year-old Love accepted the inaugural award Thursday while sporting a bow tie and Tuxedo jacket with shorts and sneakers.

The Willcox, Buyck and Williams attorney wears suit and tie by day, but chose to go with the youthful theme Thursday night.

Love was nominated for the award because he is active in Florence as well as with the Young Professionals of Florence board.

Belk said Love has made revitalizing downtown Florence one of his missions and had a hand in organizing the Florence After Five events in the city’s center. While being active in Florence, he still is able to balance his responsibilities as a lawyer with family life, Belk said.

“My typical day is 100 miles per hour from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” Love said. “Each day I try to balance my priorities — my family, my faith, profession and community. If I have a spare moment … I try to fill it with something productive.”

Love said he remembers going downtown as a child and shopping with his family on Saturdays. He wants help make downtown Florence a family destination again, he said.

He devotes an abundance of time to the Young Professionals of Florence because he believes it’s a necessity for the area’s businessmen and -women.

“It gives people the opportunity to network and meet other similarly situated individuals — it’s a good outlet,” he said.