Two Drives Collect 5,823 Prom Dresses

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Zengeler Cleaners says its 2019 collection drives for prom dresses and accessories was, “a huge success again this year.”

Donations from northern Illinois-area high schools, the Vernon (Ill.) Area Township Library District and Zengeler Cleaners’ customers netted 5,823 dresses and hundreds of other items, including shoes, hats, scarves and formal apparel accessories, it relates.

This year’s collection drives supported both the Glass Slipper Project (GSP) and the Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF). Both organizations are committed to providing an opportunity for high school students who may not otherwise be able to afford the cost of prom apparel.

“We applaud the many volunteers, supporters and sponsors of both the Glass Slipper Project and Mothers Trust Foundation, all of whom play an important role in making prom dreams — and memories — come true for students throughout Chicagoland and northern Illinois,” Zengeler says.

“The Glass Slipper Project has continuously provided a wonderful service the Chicagoland high school women,” says Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners.

“We’ve always felt it would be great to find an organization that could offer a similar opportunity for students in Lake County and the vicinity,” Zengeler adds.

“We identified Mothers Trust Foundation as that organization and are extremely pleased with their ‘Pop-up Prom Shoppe’ initiative,” he notes.

“By collecting more than 5,800 dresses, we had more than enough to support both organizations, and hope to do so again in 2020.”

This is Zengeler Cleaners’ first year supporting MTF, adding that organization to their 18 consecutive years of support for GSP.

GSP held their “shopping boutiques” on March 30 and April 6 at 5410 S. State Street in Chicago at the former Ace Technical School, the cleaners explains.

The Pop-up Prom Shoppes were held at the College of Lake County (Ill.) Grayslake Campus on April 6 and 7, serving more than 500 students in their first full-blown effort.

“Zengeler Cleaners is proud to have this unique opportunity to expand our support for Lake County students,” continues Zengeler.

These are dresses donated to the Mothers Trust Foundation, collected by Zengeler Cleaners and readied for the Pop Up Prom Shoppe Initiative earlier this spring. This drive and the Glass Slipper Project, both held this spring, netted a combined 5,823 prom dresses, the cleaners notes. (Photo by Zengeler Cleaners)

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