Humanitarian Award for World's Largest Laundromat

Tom and Mark Benson with the 36-panel solar system.

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The World's Largest Laundromat in Berwyn has been featured around the globe for its size, but now its owner, Tom Benson, and its manager, Mark Benson, are being honored for how they do business, not just how big they do business. Chicago's TEECH Foundation (Transforming, Educating, & Empowering Children and Humanity) is awarding the Bensons with their Humanitarian Empowerment Award for demonstrating a strong belief in the promotion of human rights.  

"Tom and Mark have helped transform the perspective of thousands of Americans by their personal example and consistent efforts to help the community and fellow man," the organization's press release says. "We wish to honor their endeavors and their vision." Among other things, TEECH points to the Laundromat's summer reading program, "Read to Ride" where kids are given raffle tickets for every book they read throughout the summer. At the end of the summer, 20 lucky readers ride off on new bicycles.

The laundromat has also embraced green energy, with 36 solar panels heating the 13,500-square-foot facility's water. "It's a great honor to be recognized with this award," Tom Benson says. "We treat the customers the way we'd treat family, and they keep coming back. Its just good business." The Humanitarian Empowerment Award ceremony is meant to embrace the Chicago area's diversity.

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