Charity Prom Drive Collects, Cleans More than 5,000 Dresses

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — During prom season, Zengeler Cleaners and Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF) of Lake Forest made prom dresses and accessories readily available for high school students throughout Lake County, Illinois, again this year. The annual collection drive netted 5,162 dresses, along with hundreds of accessories such as shoes, jewelry and purses.

These items were all made available at no charge to students at the 2025 distribution event, known as the “Pop Up Prom Experience,” hosted by the University Center of Lake County (UCLC).

“This year’s Pop Up Prom Experience was beyond spectacular,” says Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners. “Students from 22 public and private high schools in Lake County were able to select the perfect dress and complementary accessories. We had so many generously donated items that each student was also able to select a second dress to wear on a future occasion.

“It was heartwarming to see the joy on the faces of so many students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience their high school proms. Special thanks to Mothers Trust Foundation and all their volunteers for spending countless hours making this event possible.”

Thanks to UCLC and the College of Lake County (CLC), those attending the Prom Experience could also take advantage of the special educational component. Students could meet representatives from the schools, explore continuing education options, discover the range of available courses and learn about scholarship opportunities at UCLC and CLC, including how to apply for them.

“The weekend is truly about more than a dress,” says MTF Office & Special Events Manager Marly Subido. “It’s also about furthering education and building confidence, all while providing a lifetime school memory.”

Zengeler Cleaners coordinated with area high schools, not-for-profit organizations and local businesses to collect dresses and accessories. Each donated item was inspected, repaired as needed and cleaned by the Zengeler team.

“We are always amazed at the number of donated dresses year after year,” Tom Zengeler says. “We even have some customers who purchase brand-new dresses, then donate them in support of this event. The extraordinary volume of items we receive each year truly speaks to the generosity of both local students and our customers.”