New England Dress Drive Marks 20 Years of Making Proms Dreams Come True

Caring Partners' Belle of the Ball prom dress drive helped junior and senior high school girls in need of prom attire get the dresses they wanted.

The invitation-only Belle of the Ball “Boutique Day” experience was held at the Hynes Convention Center on Saturday, April 11. It invited deserving young women to enjoy a day of shopping for a prom gown and some personal pampering.

This year, more than 1,800 girls were invited to browse thousands of dry-cleaned dresses, shoes, jewelry, and accessories of various colors, sizes, and styles.

According to a 7NEWS Boston report, 2026 marks the program's 20th year. More than 8,400 students have been outfitted for prom since Belle of the Ball began in 2005. Anton's Cleaners has contributed over $4.7 million in dry cleaning services since the program's inception. To date, more than 112,779 gently used prom dresses have been collected for donation over the past two decades.

Monetary and in-kind donations from generous donors are welcome to help girls pay for jewelry, makeup, and other accessories, as well as prom-related services. To make a financial donation to Caring Partners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, visit Anton's Cleaners website.