OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — The LaundryCares Foundation presented some high-profile awards during Clean Show week in August.
Jason Dodge, who owns Capitol Quick Wash in Milwaukee, was presented the 2025 Community Excellence Award, recognition for his deep commitment to serving his community and for transforming his laundromat into a hub for family engagement and support.
Through his partnership with LaundryCares, Dodge has embraced the Read, Play and Learn initiative, creating welcoming spaces where families can access books, literacy resources, and playful learning opportunities while doing laundry.
Additionally, Dodge was commended for his extraordinary response following a fire that swept through an apartment complex near his laundromat. He immediately mobilized to provide clothing support and laundry services.
“Jason embodies the heart of community partnership,” says Dan Naumann, LaundryCares executive director. “His leadership, compassion and vision for how laundromats can serve families make him a true role model for operators across the country.”
Colleen Holz, volunteer coordinator at the Appleton (Wis.) Public Library, was presented the 2025 Becca Ruidl Excellence in Early Literacy Award, recognizing her pioneering leadership in bringing early literacy into laundromats, as well as her steadfast advocacy for LaundryCares since its inception.
She has worked tirelessly to expand access to books, story times and playful learning experiences for families in laundromats across Appleton, a city of roughly 75,000 people. In partnership with JJ’s Laundry there, Holz has helped families with high-quality books, interactive early literacy activities, and targeted outreach designed to meet the needs of diverse communities.
This award honors Ruidl’s legacy; her groundbreaking work at the Chicago Public Library established laundromats as powerful spaces for early learning.
“Colleen has been with us from the very beginning,” Naumann says. “Her creativity, cultural responsiveness, and unwavering belief in the power of laundromats to change lives embody the spirit of the Becca Ruidl Award. She has built strong partnerships and brought joy to countless children and families.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
