Our Guiding Principles
Grassroots Approach
Empower authentic support by amplifying local voices and initiatives, driven by the community
Transparency
Build trust through open communication and clear reporting on how donations are used
Storytelling
Give the community an opportunity to get to know local teachers while shining a light on the everyday realities they face teaching in under-resourced schools
Holistic Educational Support
Providing not only school supplies but also complementary resources to support the full educational journey
The Problems Teachers Are Facing:
Teachers need help with school supplies year-round
Although there are a lot of school supply drive initiatives during the beginning of the school year, we forget that teachers are paying out of their own pockets to restock on supplies for their students in the middle and end of the school year.
Based on a survey we conducted, teachers spend an average of $1,000 out of pocket each school year to provide essential classroom supplies and resources for their students.
Fighting for visibility on crowdfunding platforms
Although there are crowdfunding platforms like DonorsChoose and Adopt a Classroom, teachers don't have the extra time to promote their campaigns during the school year and with so many teachers on the platforms, it's hard to compete for visibility.
Lack of Tailored Support
Many existing initiatives focus primarily on supporting classrooms during the back-to-school season, leaving teachers and schools without consistent access to supplies and educational resources throughout the school year.
Additionally, support is often provided without fully understanding the specific needs of each school. Schools and teachers face different challenges, yet resources are not always tailored to the programs, classrooms, and students who need them most.
Funding Cuts
South Florida schools are facing growing financial pressures as reductions in education funding and grants leave schools with fewer resources to support their students and teachers.
When school budgets are stretched, basic classroom supplies, educational programs, and other student resources can become harder to fund—placing additional pressure on teachers to fill the gaps themselves.
OUR SOLUTIONS
Engage the Community
As part of our fundraising & awareness efforts, we are creating a social media comedy series called, Boots on the Ground, featuring real teachers in South Florida. Inspired by Abbott Elementary, the series will give the community an opportunity to get to know local teachers while shining a light on the everyday realities they face teaching in under-resourced schools.
Collaborate
Up for Grabs was built for the community and is meant to be led by the community. Through local partnerships and sponsorships, we aim to create and participate in events that will bring people together, raise awareness, and generate donations to support our mission.
Partner with Title I Schools
Based on the donations we receive, we will partner with Title I schools in Miami-Dade & Broward County. By working closely with a select number of partner schools each year, we can tailor our support to their specific needs, remain responsive throughout the school year, and maximize the impact of every donated dollar.
Meet THE founder
Juliana Rodriguez
Juliana first had the idea to create Up for Grabs during the pandemic upon learning how expensive back to school supplies cost from several news reports. At the same time, she learned about different communities creating grassroot organizations and systems. Seeing how communities were coming together to create solutions where systems fell short inspired her to find a solution to help teachers and parents financially with educational resources. It was evident to her that the physical and financial resources existed for these classrooms -what was missing was a bridge to connect them with those who needed them most.
She felt inspired to take a creative strategy after taking improv classes at Villain Theater, and rewatching one of her favorite episodes on Abbott Elementary, where teachers used social media to get their classroom wish lists fulfilled. Juliana decided to take a risk and create her own short comedy series that features local teachers and their stories, using humor to raise awareness across South Florida and inspire direct action to support our educators.
This Seasons Partner: Carol City Elementary
Season 1 of Up For Grabs features 4 Carol City Elementary teachers! To learn more about the school and their teachers needs, click the button below.