Step Up San Diego
Preview Brunch
Fundraiser for the Free Tutoring & Housing Stability Programs of UPLIFT San Diego
Saturday, November 15, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
San Diego Wine & Culinary Event Center
200 Harbor Drive, Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92101
Sponsored by
About Step Up
A Community Movement in Motion
Step Up San Diego is UPLIFT’s signature community fundraiser — a citywide movement that turns fitness into impact. What began as a local stair climb challenge has evolved into a collaborative philanthropy model that unites nonprofits, businesses, and neighbors around one shared goal: building a stronger San Diego.
Our Story
Launched in 2021, Step Up San Diego started as a fun, team-based stair climb at the San Diego Convention Center Bayside Stairs. Over the years, it has grown into a campaign engaging hundreds of participants, volunteers, and nonprofit partners. Teams come together to climb, give, and celebrate the power of community collaboration.
How It Works
Step Up San Diego operates on a collaborative, peer-to-peer fundraising model. Participants form teams representing local nonprofits. Each team raises funds that are shared — part supporting UPLIFT’s free Tutoring and Housing Stability Programs, and part benefiting their chosen nonprofit partner.
Every year, teams gather for weekly Saturday stair climbs at the Convention Center, turning every step into support for San Diego’s students, families, and community programs.
Key Milestones
2021 — Launch of Step Up as a stair-climb fundraising event. Local teams climbed the Bayside Stairs at the Convention Center to raise funds for UPLIFT’s programs and invited nonprofit partners.
2022 — Expanded participation and introduced more partner nonprofits. Added virtual or hybrid climb options to broaden reach.
2023 —Growth in fundraising totals and number of teams. Enhanced fundraising tools and donor engagement features.
2026 — Most ambitious campaign yet: launching an expanded network of nonprofit partners, deeper community collaboration, weekly Saturday stair climbs in March, a strengthened peer-to-peer model, and new sponsorship opportunities.