Archive for year: 2025

Raldex Hospitality, a locally owned hotel management company operating five hotels in Florence, proudly hosted its 13th First Responders Cookout Luncheon on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The event, held at the Raldex corporate office, welcomed hundreds of first responders from across Florence for a complimentary lunch to honor their dedication and service to the community.

First responders from various departments—including Fire, EMS, City Police, Sheriff’s Office, Dispatch, SLED, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and DNR—were invited to enjoy a meal, network with one another, and take plates back to colleagues unable to leave their posts. Parking for the event was provided by the Florence Center, and the luncheon was supported by Raldex staff, including hotel General Managers and employees who volunteered their time to serve the guests.

“This is our way of saying thank you,” said Chad Patterson, CEO and President of Raldex Hospitality. “We try to host this cookout twice a year, and it’s always an honor to feed the people who take care of us every day. They protect our city, they respond to emergencies, and they support our hotels. The least we can do is serve them a great lunch and show our appreciation.”

To read the full press release, click here.

The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce helped to sponsor the welcome reception for the 2024-2025 Leadership South Carolina class yesterday at the Francis Marion University Gately Gallery at University Place in Downtown Florence.

Helen Munnerlyn, Executive Director of Leadership South Carolina, brought the 50-person Leadership group back to Florence as part of the Future Challenges & Graduation Ceremony session. This is the fourth time Helen has included Florence in the leadership development program agenda.

The class has held sessions throughout South Carolina including Columbia, Charleston/Seabrook Island, Greenville, McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, Greenwood and Spartanburg.

To see the full schedule, click here.

The Spring Into Wellness Health Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th, 2025, from 11am to 4pm at Amazing Grace Park, 307 W. Dozier St. Marion, SC. This is a free community event and there will be live music and entertainment, a variety of health care providers and several food vendors. For additional information, please contact 843-615-1558 or 803-272-1063 or email SAT@tlcyourwayhomecare.com.

To see the full flyer, click here.

April is a month of action at Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Assault! We are recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month under the theme Together We Act, United We Change. Pee Dee Coalition Florence County Crisis Center will be hosting a variety of events, including awareness initiatives, prevention education trainings & workshops, and opportunities for community involvement & local business partnerships.

Pee Dee Coalition encourages individuals, businesses, and organizations to take part in Sexual Assault Awareness Month by attending events, sponsoring events, sharing prevention resources, signing up for community education presentations, and advocating for victims/survivors. To view the full regional calendar of events for Pee Dee Coalition or learn how you can participate, please visit www.peedeecoalition.org

For more information, click here.

The Chamber’s Leadership Florence Class of 2025 had the opportunity to hear from representatives from the City of Florence and Florence County at the Florence County Complex. The session took place on Tuesday, April 8th.

The class also experienced presentations and demonstrations from local law enforcement officials and City of Florence Fire Department. A special thank you goes out to the City of Florence, Florence County Police Department, Florence County, and Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

Another great day for this special group of business leaders.

To see more photos from the day, click here.