About Up For Grabs:
At our core, we’re neighbors and friends coming together to support local teachers and students across South Florida. Every day, passionate teachers work with outdated textbooks, worn-out supplies, and empty closets—doing their best with too little. At the same time, caring community members want to step up but need a simple, direct way to make a real difference.
That’s where we come in. We are more than just a donation hub—we are a movement built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. We don’t just fill supply closets; we fuel hope and unlock potential. Because when our kids have what they need to learn and grow, our whole community thrives.
Our Guiding Principles
Grassroots Model
Empowering authentic support by amplifying local voices and initiatives, driven by the community.
Transparency
Building trust through open communication and clear reporting on how donations are used.
Engaging Storytelling
Using creative and relatable content to highlight educational challenges and inspire community action.
Focused Regional Impact
Targeting South Florida communities to tailor support and strengthen neighborhood networks.
Holistic Educational Support
Providing not only school supplies but also complementary resources to support the full educational journey.
Our Initiatives
Activity 1: Community Supply Drives
We collect and distribute new and gently used clothing and school supplies directly to our partner schools through supply drives and partnerships with local businesses
Why It Matters: This initiative helps prevent valuable resources from going to waste by ensuring that supplies reach the students who need them most within our community. Up for Grabs works closely with local schools to understand their specific needs, allowing donors to see the direct impact of their contributions.
Where your donations go: 100% of funds and physical donations go directly to our school partners
Activity 2: Social Media Series
We're creating a social media series to spotlight the dedicated teachers in our community while raising awareness—through engaging and entertaining content—about the challenges they face each school year in supplying their classrooms.
Why It Matters: This initiative helps viewers connect with local educators and gain a deeper understanding of the financial burdens and real obstacles teachers encounter when providing classroom supplies. By shining a light on these stories, we foster empathy and motivate community support.
Where your donations go: 85% of funds we raise from the series go to our school partners. 15% of funds go to production and other admin costs
Activity 3: Events
Our events engage the community in enjoyable, interactive settings while raising awareness and funds to support Up for Grabs’ mission.
Why It Matters: These events provide opportunities for community members to come together, have fun, and actively contribute to a meaningful cause.
Where your donations go: 75% of funds we raise from our events go to our school partners. 25% of funds go to event costs and & admin expenses
Meet our 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.