At first glance, the Back on My Feet Baltimore Bash at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall had all the trappings of a traditional gala: A few hundred folks meeting and greeting, all decked out in suits and shimmering dresses. However, as soon as you looked down, you knew this wasn't your average shindig. There were sneakers everywhere.

"You're supposed to wear cocktail attire with sneakers because Back on My Feet is all about running," said Anne Mahlum, who founded the nonprofit in 2007 in Philadelphia to help the homeless learn self-sufficiency through a running program.

The Baltimore chapter opened in March 2009. However, for many of its team leaders, volunteers, and homeless shelter resident members, the evening's footwear was old news.

"We see each other in running clothes every day. So, to see people all dressed up is something," said Jackie Truncellito, Back on My Feet Baltimore's program director.

"I don't recognize most people on my [running] team [except] by their sneakers," said Mike DiJulia, a Back on My Feet Baltimore team leader.

"We heard about this and were so excited to be involved," said Duff Goldman, whose Charm City Cakes created a huge purple-and-black sneaker-shaped cake for the occasion.

Not everyone observed the evening's tenets. Philadelphia-based event planner Jennifer Shur - wife of Back on My Feet's chief operating officer, Jonathan Shur - was hard to miss in her 6-inch studded black gladiator stilettos.

"I'm 5 feet tall, so I couldn't bear [wearing] sneakers. I knew someone was going to catch me," she said with a giggle.

Sloane Brown can be contacted at sloane@sloanebrown.com.