GearUp, Inc

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GearUp, Inc We provide 1st generation, low income, and other under-represented students w/the supplies they need to be successful in post-secondary education.

GearUp is dedicated to supplying low-income and first-generation, graduating seniors the supplies needed to get started on their post-secondary adventure. With the help and support of their families, educators, and community mentors, these students have accomplished the exciting milestone of acceptance into college or a skilled training program. However, the cost of supplying the items necessary to get started on their journey can be overwhelming. These things include dorm room essentials, technology tools, and materials required for various programs. The goal of GearUp is to eliminate the stress of funding these items so students can walk onto campus confident they belong there and supplied with the tools necessary to succeed.

09/13/2026

🚨 AND SO BEGINS…THE NONPROFIT PANIC. 🚨

A new GearUp cycle is officially underway! 🎓💻📚

Everyone gets to see the fun part—shopping with our students, loading up carts, buying laptops, dorm supplies, school supplies, and all the things our students need to start their next chapter.

What you don’t see is what happens before all of that. 😂

Welcome to what we affectionately call The Nonprofit Panic.

It looks a little something like this:

🔎 Search for grants.
📝 Apply for grants.
🙏 Hope we get the grants.
📧 Email businesses.
💰 Look for sponsors.
📋 Fill out forms.
📊 Create budgets.
📝 Fill out more forms.
🤔 Wonder why the grant application needs information we swear we already entered on page 2.
👀 Look for coffee shop partners
☕ Drink coffee (using our ScholarSips cards of course!)
🔄 Refresh email.
😬 Panic slightly.
💡 Come up with fundraiser ideas.
📧 Send more emails.
🙏 Cross fingers.
❤️ Remind ourselves why we do it.

Then repeat approximately 4,782 times.

Because before we can tell a student, “Yep, GearUp can help with that,” we have to make sure the money is there to do it.

GearUp is a small nonprofit with a big goal: helping low-income and first-generation graduating seniors get the supplies they need to begin college, technical school, or their next educational adventure feeling prepared and supported.

And every year, we basically start over.

New students.
New needs.
New grants.
New sponsors.
New fundraising.

Same mission. ❤️

So if you see us posting about fundraisers, asking businesses for support, sharing sponsorship opportunities, or celebrating a grant like we just won the lottery…now you know why.

The Nonprofit Panic has begun. 😂

And somehow, with an incredible community behind us, we keep turning that panic into laptops, dorm supplies, program materials, and opportunities for some pretty amazing students.

Here we go, GearUp! Class of 2027—we’re coming for you. 🎓❤️

09/01/2026

Good luck to all the GearUp kids starting college in the last couple of weeks! We are so proud of you!! 🍀🎓📚

🎉Congratulations to Stefanie Kline, our grand prize winner!🎉$75 Gift card for Digger's/Schmidty's3 ScholarSips CardsGear...
08/10/2026

🎉Congratulations to Stefanie Kline, our grand prize winner!🎉

$75 Gift card for Digger's/Schmidty's
3 ScholarSips Cards
GearUp T-Shirt

📣 And to round up our coffee shop partner highlights, we'd like to give a shout-out to JavaVino! This is their second year partnering with GearUp on our ScholarSips cards. JavaVino combines the coziness of a coffee shop and the energy of a w**e and cocktail bar all in one, along with great food!  They also have a convenient drive-through and an amazing outdoor patio area. Swing by for a cup of coffee or glass of w**e and thank them for supporting GearUp students! 

🎉Congratulations to Rick W Cornforth - our 3rd and final weekly giveaway winner! He has won a ScholarSips Card, featurin...
08/09/2026

🎉Congratulations to Rick W Cornforth - our 3rd and final weekly giveaway winner! He has won a ScholarSips Card, featuring free drinks from four local coffee shops ☕️🍵- a $25 value!🎉

📣As part of our weekly winner announcements, we are featuring one of our four local coffee shop partners.

➡️ Oh Oh Coffee is an indigenous-owned coffee shop that specializes in ethical, organic and unique roasts. James, the owner, roasts most of his coffees in-house, but also offers a special pour-over menu, using unique blends from roasters across the country. Besides ethically sourcing his ingredients, James' business model also reflects his values. Oh Oh is a tip free coffee shop because he believes in paying his employees a livable wage. Please stop in and thank James for supporting local students! 

🏆 The winner of our Grand Prize will be announced later this evening! 🏆

You can support GearUp's mission by purchasing your own ScholarSips Card at the link below ⬇️⬇️
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6DHj7jMxwrFK_g7FkSjcAmW5Z5QQoUeb4EzczzNd9ccIf5A/viewform

08/08/2026

🚨LAST CHANCE🚨

Both current & new followers are eligible to enter our giveaway. The last weekly drawing will be the morning of Sunday, August 9th. That lucky winner will receive a ScholarSips card, featuring free drinks from 4 local coffee shops ☕️🍵 - a $25 value!

📣Our GRAND PRIZE winner will be announced Sunday evening.

🏆 $75 gift card for Digger's/Schmidty's, 3 ScholarSips cards, and a GearUp t-shirt🏆

➡️ All entries must be completed by the end of the day on Saturday, August 8th.

🎉 Meet Our Final GearUp Student of the Class of 2026 – Stafaun! 🎉As we introduce our last GearUp student from the Class ...
08/06/2026

🎉 Meet Our Final GearUp Student of the Class of 2026 – Stafaun! 🎉

As we introduce our last GearUp student from the Class of 2026, we couldn't be more excited to celebrate Stafaun and the bright future ahead of him!

This fall, Stafaun plans to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College to study carpentry. His dream is to one day open his own renovation company, transforming houses into homes and building a successful business from the ground up. But that's not his only goal! Stafaun also hopes to become a personal fitness trainer, combining his passion for working out with his desire to inspire others because, as he says, "Fitness is health."

His heart for serving others is already evident. As a mentor for the Hope Restores Boys Group, Stafaun has discovered the joy of encouraging young people, and he hopes to continue mentoring for years to come.

Like many graduates, Stafaun is looking forward to the freedom and excitement of independence while also acknowledging the nerves that come with stepping into a new chapter. Those mixed emotions are all part of the journey, and we know he is more than ready for what's ahead.

When asked about the teacher who made the biggest impact on his life, Stafaun didn't hesitate:
💙 Ms. Booker has been his favorite teacher throughout the past 12 years. Thank you, Ms. Booker, for being such a positive influence!

As we wrap up our introductions to the GearUp Class of 2026, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every business sponsor, individual donor, volunteer, and supporter who made this program possible. Because of your generosity, students like Stafaun are beginning this next chapter with the supplies, encouragement, and confidence they need to succeed. We also need to shout out the YWCA and La Crosse County Social Workers who have connected us with kids who can use our program.

❤️ Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their futures. Together, we're changing lives—one student at a time.

We have another Badger to introduce! Sao is a Logan graduate and will be attending UW-Madison to study computer enginee...
08/05/2026

We have another Badger to introduce! Sao is a Logan graduate and will be attending UW-Madison to study computer engineering. As the eldest of 5 siblings, he applied for GearUp assistance with dorm supplies and study materials because he was concerned about the financial impact and burden of college expenses on his family. Sao enjoys creating in both the digital and physical realms and hopes that computer engineering will enable him to explore these passions while someday allowing him to support his family financially.

GearUp is happy to support Sao in reaching his goals with the help of our sponsors: Chiropractic First of La Crescent, Digger's Sting Restaurant/Schmidty's Bar & Restaurant, La Crosse Kiwanis Club, Munson Realty, and Schilling Supply Company!

💥This is the last week of our giveaway!!💥 Both current and new followers are eligible. Follow, like, and tag two friends in the comments to enter our last weekly drawing and a chance to win the grand prize 🏆 - a $75 gift certificate from Digger's/Schmidty's, 3 ScholarSips cards, and a Gear-Up t-shirt!

Alexis is a Logan graduate headed to Carthage College. Not only will she be pursuing a nursing degree, but she will also...
08/04/2026

Alexis is a Logan graduate headed to Carthage College. Not only will she be pursuing a nursing degree, but she will also compete on Carthage's track team in shot put and discus! Both Alexis' mom and stepmom  accompanied her on our shopping trip, providing double the support! It came in handy when trying to navigate 3 shopping carts through Target. 🛒🛒🛒

💥This is the last week of our giveaway!!💥 Both current and new followers are eligible. Follow, like, and tag two friends in the comments to enter our last weekly drawing and a chance to win the grand prize 🏆 - a $75 gift certificate from Digger's/Schmidty's, 3 ScholarSips cards, and a Gear-Up t-shirt!

Whisper graduated from Central High School and is headed to UW-Stout in the fall to study business. She already has a jo...
08/03/2026

Whisper graduated from Central High School and is headed to UW-Stout in the fall to study business. She already has a job lined up in her dorm at the front desk and hopes to be an RA as an upperclassman. Her mom had shopped deals and garage sales throughout the year for some dorm supplies, and GearUp was able to help them check the rest of the items off her list. Whisper said she was excited to start college, while her mother said it was going to be difficult to let her go. It always seems like it's harder on the parents, doesn't it?

Please join us in thanking our sponsors who make it possible to gear our students up for college!
Chiropractic First of La Crescent
Digger's Sting Restaurant/Schmidty's Bar & Restaurant
La Crosse Kiwanis Club
Munson Realty
Schilling Supply Company

🎉Congratulations to Karla Lawrence - our 2nd weekly giveaway winner! She has won a ScholarSips Card, featuring free drin...
08/03/2026

🎉Congratulations to Karla Lawrence - our 2nd weekly giveaway winner! She has won a ScholarSips Card, featuring free drinks from four local coffee shops ☕️🍵- a $25 value!🎉

📣As part of our weekly winner announcements, we are featuring one of our four local coffee shop partners.

➡️ Free Range Exchange is a cozy café featuring a true farm to table experience. They make their food using the finest and freshest ingredients sourced from local small farms and businesses. Their coffee selection showcases fresh locally roasted beans. They also offer many convenience items from local small businesses. Please stop in and thank them for supporting local students! 
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DVdQjsM5f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

You can support GearUp's mission by purchasing your own ScholarSips Card at the link below ⬇️⬇️
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6DHj7jMxwrFK_g7FkSjcAmW5Z5QQoUeb4EzczzNd9ccIf5A/viewform

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La Crosse, WI
54601

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