Chucks & Tux to benefit Growing Kings

Growing Kings is a nonprofit that provides mentoring and enrichment services to at-risk male students in the Birmingham City Schools. 

“Part of our work is to help our students discover and cultivate what interests and passions drive them so that they can have a clear vision of who they want to be when they grow up,” said the group’s executive director, Marcus Carson.

So it seems appropriate that the organization’s annual fundraiser, Chucks & Tux — at Old Car Heaven April 29 at 8 p.m. — is centered on the talents and creativity of Birmingham high school students.

The event will feature a silent auction of classic Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers customized by the students who won the recent GKChucks: Student Shoe Design Contest.

“Being able to provide a space for … students to express themselves creatively and bring this type of exposure to their skills and talents is very rewarding,” Carson said.

The contest is in partnership with the UAB Department of Art & Art History, where contest winners attend a boot camp to complete their designs.

The students’ designs are “incredibly creative and well executed,” Carson said.

In keeping with the event’s theme, attendees are encouraged to wear Chuck Taylors along with formal attire. 

“We have a number of guests who will custom-tailor their Converses to reflect their own personality,” Carson said.

The first Chucks & Tux was in 2016 at WorkPlay.

Tickets are $50. VIP tickets are $125. For more information, go to growingkings.org.