Mother-daughter prom honors memory of fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston
A free prom for mothers and daughters was held in the Chicago suburb of Burbank Tuesday evening, courtesy of the family of fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston.
Chicago Police officers were in attendance as special guests. While they attended in uniform, retired CPD Sgt. Vivian Williams got all gussied up along with her 9- and 10-year-old granddaughters.
"They see all the uniforms in there with women wearing them," Williams said of her granddaughters.
Williams hoped to inspire the girls, while having a little fun. Amid the merriment were memories of the person whom the event honored — Officer Preston.
Preston died in the line of duty during an attempted robbery in May 2023.
"A piece of me left," said Preston's mother, Dionne Mhoon.
Mhoon channels some of her grief into the Peace For Preston Foundation.
"She loved the community. She loved to help people," Mhoon said, "so this is my homage and honor to help somebody in another way."
The nonprofit in Preston's name has kept busy — with back-to-school giveaways, trunk-or-treats, and the mother-daughter prom held Tuesday.
What made the mother-daughter prom so special was that it was for the ladies of the house only.
"A relationship between mother and daughter is so very important," Mhoon said. "We're their first role model."
That includes the bond retired Sgt. Williams forged with her former coworker's mom.
"We promised her in the 5th District that we would be with her all the way through the case and never let her go, just be here to support her," Williams said.
Cases against the young men accused of killing Preston are ongoing. So are community events by The Peace for Preston Foundation.
Up next is a prom dress giveaway on April 12.