Annual Prom Dress Collection Drive is a huge success
Prom season is in full bloom, and thanks to Mothers Trust Foundation of Lake Forest and Zengeler Cleaners, prom dresses and accessories were readily available for high school students throughout Lake County 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.
“This year’s Pop Up Prom Experience was beyond spectacular,” said 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 at 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.”
Those attending the Prom Experience could also take advantage of the special educational component again this year, thanks to the University Center of Lake County and the College of Lake County. Students had an opportunity to meet representatives from the schools, explore continuing education options, discover the range of available courses and to learn about scholarship opportunities at UCLC and CLC, including how to apply for them.
“The weekend Is truly about more than a dress,” said Marly Subido, Office & Special Events Manager at MTF. “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 lovingly worn dresses and accessories. Each donated item was inspected, repaired as needed and cleaned by the Zengeler team, assuring each dress was in perfect condition for prom night.
“We are always amazed at the number of donated dresses year after year,” Zengeler said. “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.”
More information about Mothers Trust Foundation is available at motherstrustfoundation.org. For more information about Zengeler Cleaners, contact Tom Zengeler at (847) 272-6550, ext. 14, or visit zengelercleaners.com. Zengeler Cleaners’ stores are in Deerfield, Long Grove, Northbrook, Northfield and Winnetka; along with two stores in Libertyville.