New and Like New Prom Attire Available to All DVUSD Students; Plus How You Can Donate

Prom season is just around the corner, which means students enrolled in any of Deer Valley Unified School District’s five high schools can make an appointment to shop Ann E’s Closet at Barry Goldwater High School to find the perfect formal wear for the big event at no cost. 

What started out as a mission by former DVUSD School Board President Ann Ordway almost two decades ago to ensure all students in the district had access to formal attire for school-sponsored events like dances, promotions and graduation ceremonies, has grown into a dedicated space for students to shop and try on prom wear at BGHS in a boutique-style store setting. 

Ann Ordway, former DVUSD Board President and volunteer, shows a sample of the many formal dresses students can select at Ann E’s Closet to wear to prom.

Custom-built clothing racks and shelves lined with dresses and formal attire including suits, shirts, ties, shoes, jewelry and accessories are ready for students to shop by appointment. The formal wear is like new and some are brand new with tags still attached. 

The most important part of the whole experience is making sure students feel special.

“I tell them you get to make the dress, the dress doesn’t make you. On a hanger it’s a piece of fabric, but once the person puts it on it gets its personality,” Ordway told Valley Vibe during a visit to the shop. 

And, oftentimes, students will pay it forward by returning their dress after the event so it can be used by another student, along with their no longer needed gently used clothes. 

Prom attire is only one aspect of Ann E’s Closet. For students enrolled at Barry Goldwater, the shop regularly houses casual clothing, shoes and accessories for students on campus to shop at twice a month. Many of the racks are filled with designer and brand named clothing and accessories. 

“This couldn’t happen if not for the generous donations of our community,” said Ann E’s Closet Volunteer, Angie Finch. 

It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make this initiative happen and that’s where the work of the students involved with the Transition School to Work program, funded by the Department of Economic Security comes in. The program helps high school students with disabilities prepare for employment after graduation. 

BGHS Principal Dr. Anita Stulc, Ann Ordway, and Jennifer Humpal, DVUSD’s transition to work program coordinator display prom dress selections at Ann E’s Closet.

Their elective course work starts by regularly collecting items from the bins and bringing them to the sorting room where they take inventory and prep the clothes for the district’s Ann E’s closet locations.

Items that can’t be utilized are donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters and Ann E’s receives a portion of the proceeds which is used to purchase regular new staple items, including socks, underwear, and this year— new dress shirts in a variety of sizes in preparation for prom and graduation season. 

DVUSD is working to expand the program and is developing a curriculum attached to the district’s Career Technical Education program standards so students receive classroom instruction and a set of hands-on job opportunities during their program experience. Job descriptions will range from customer service specialist, inventory specialist and closet manager, with the goal for it to be entirely student run, said Jennifer Humpal, transition to work program coordinator.

Ann E’s Closet & Pantry locations are managed and operated by the Deer Valley Education Foundation, a non-profit which supports grants for student scholarships and grants for innovative learning experiences. No district funds are used for the purchase, management, or maintenance of Ann E’s Closet & Pantry materials or locations.

Reserve a Spot to Shop 

DVUSD students can reserve a timeslot to shop for their prom dress at [email protected]. (Students must be currently enrolled at any of the DVUSD School District’s five high schools). Check www.dvusd.org for an announcement of when prom attire shopping time slots become available. 

Ann E’s Closet at Deer Valley Middle School features new and gently used clothing for children and adults, food items, toys and games and is available for DVUSD families and employees to shop as needed by appointment only.  

2 Ways to Donate

• 1. Drop your gently used clothing, shoes, toiletries and other non-perishable items in the donation bins at:

Save the Date: DVUSD Prom 2025

Saturday, April 26

• Boulder Creek High School
• Deer Valley High School
• Sandra Day O’Connor High School 
• Mountain Ridge High School

Saturday, May 3

• Barry Goldwater High School

VALLEY VIBE STAFF PHOTOS