Step Into UPward Design for Life’s One‑of‑a‑Kind Fundraising Event!

Three teams will compete to transform empty spaces into homes. Each team will serve one client-family starting with the initial home visit all the way through furniture installation. As a team, they will select furnishings, from our collection of gently used donations, to fit the needs of the client-family while keeping in mind the design they are envisioning for the home.

Teams will fully furnish an entire residence including providing cookware, dishware, utensils, small kitchen appliances, linens, towels, shower curtains and other home décor items - completely transforming the environment.

All design teams will be filmed throughout the process so that you can follow along on their community service journey. All of this will culminate into the Design Challenge Awards Event, a private event to celebrate transformations, showcase UDFL’s commitment to our community, and announce the official winners of this year’s Annual UPlift Design Challenge!

Want to know what else is so special about our design challenge? With the support of local hospitality partners, each family gets a complimentary hotel overnight stay, complimentary car service to and from the hotel, and host of gifts and gift cards to nearby restaurants and attractions. Finally, the family returns home to see their newly furnished space created by the design team! This entire experience makes our client-families feel special and loved.

We hope that your company will become a sponsor and support this beautiful fundraising initiative!

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to volunteer for UPward Design for Life through Delaware North’s team. I truly felt like I made a difference in a family’s life, and seeing them return to their newly refurbished home was such a memorable and meaningful experience. Dionne is an excellent leader and organizational point person, but volunteers can use their creativity and expertise to bring their vision to life. I also appreciate the organization’s approach to sustainability, repurposing household items and furniture for a good cause, and finding new homes for valuable and beautiful items that would otherwise go to landfill. I cannot recommend UPward Design for Life enough to companies looking to get involved and start a corporate team-building program. I appreciated the chance to work with coworkers I don’t normally interact with in my day-to-day role. We all used our unique strengths and backgrounds to contribute to our design project, and the day went smoothly thanks to effective teamwork.””

— Natalie Murphy, Communications Specialist - Delaware North

Help us reach our $40,000 goal by July 31, 2026!

Corporate sponsorship opportunites are now open for our 5th annual UPlift Design Challenge and Fundraiser for 2026! See details below!

Your support makes lasting change possible.

After submitting your sponsorship form, feel free to lock in your sponsorship now by making a payment here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/JKRbgFKSr83nsCsOdcKeug

If paying by check, please make checks payable to UPward Design for Life, Corp. and mail to P.O. Box 327 Buffalo, NY 14215.

*Your donation is tax deductible. UPward Design for Life, Corp. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. A receipt will be sent following submission of your sponsorship payment. Thank you for your support!