Our Mission

Our Mission is to inspire the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport.

 

Our Vision is to empower people to take action against rare diseases and be a catalyst for the medical community to find cures.

Our Programs

Rare Disease Research

Leverage public interest to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare diseases

Read More
Uplifting Leaders

Develops social influencers into leaders that make a positive impact on the rare disease community

Read More
Uplifting Leaders
Rare Disease Awareness

Shares the platform of sport with the rare disease cause and raises it as a national priority

Read More
Uplifting Experiences

Creates special moments that enrich the lives of rare disease patients and their loved ones

Read More
Uplifting Experiences

Our Chapters

Our Motivation

1 in 10 Americans will be diagnosed with a Rare Disease

A Rare Disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans at any given time.

7,000

Approximate number of different rare diseases that collectively affect more than 30 million Americans.

Rare diseases are often chronic, progressive, degenerative and life-threatening.

75%

of rare diseases affect children

30%

of children with a rare disease will not live to see their 5th birthday.

Fundraising Initiatives

Lift For Life

Lift For Life is the original fundraising event that
launched Uplifitng Athletes! The event was
inspired by Don Shirley's battle with a rare
cancer. Now, college football teams across the
country participate in the right-of-passage to
benefit the rare disease community!

$224,976.27 Amount Raised
88 Campaigns
Learn More
Lift For Life

Touchdown Pledge Drive

Touchdown Pledge Drive brings awareness and helps raise funds while capitalizing on what our students-athletes do best during our most visible time of the year, college football season.

$25,409.68 Amount Raised
15 Teams
Learn More

UA Ambassadors

The UA Ambassador program empowers individual athletes to support the Rare Disease Community by raising money and awareness with their performance. Opportunities include Reps for Rare Diseases at the NFL Combine and/or Pro Day workouts, the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats campaign, and anything else you can imagine!

$67,188.76 Amount Raised
60 Campaigns
Learn More
Penn State's Mike Gesicki at the NFL Combine

Team UA

We are inviting athletes from across the country to support our mission by holding a pledge-based event to raise money for Uplifting Athletes. This program is open to all sports and all levels! Simply click create your campaign below to get started and a member of our staff will reach out to you to help make it a success.

$35,799.40 Amount Raised
42 Campaigns
Learn More

Uplifting Events & Awareness Campaigns

My Cause, My Cleats
Rare Disease Champion
Young Investigator Draft
Reps for Rare Diseases

My Cause, My Cleats

Date: Weeks 13-15 2018
Location: NFL Stadiums

 

Read More

Rare Disease Champion

Date: December 6, 2018
Location: College Football Hall of Fame (Atlanta, GA)

 

Read More

Young Investigator Draft

Date: March 9th, 2019
Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',GIVEBOX.init([{auto:517676}]));

Read More

Reps for Rare Diseases

Date: February/March
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

 

Read More

Uplifting News

Rare Disease Community takes over Lincoln Financial Field at 2nd Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft
Posted on Wednesday March 13, 2019
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia experienced a Rare Disease Community takeover Saturday night when Uplifting Athletes hosted its 2nd Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring. And the spotlight at The Linc – home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles – was on the six rare disease research grant recipients drafted by our priority partners to […] Continue Reading »
44 NFL prospects join 2019 Reps For Rare Diseases campaign for NFL Pro Day workouts
Posted on Wednesday March 06, 2019
For the fifth consecutive year, Uplifting Athletes is empowering NFL prospects with the opportunity to use their NFL Pro Day as a platform to give back by raising funds and awareness in support of the Rare Disease Community. The Reps For Rare Diseases Campaign is one of the first opportunities for these athletes to create […] Continue Reading »
Stony Brook Chapter announces annual Lift For Life to help inspire the Rare Disease Community set for March 15
Posted on Tuesday March 05, 2019
The Stony Brook Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Friday, March 15th Lift For Life is the signature fundraising event for the Stony Brook Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Stony Brook is a part of Uplifting Athletes’ nationwide network of chapters led by college […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Shana McCormack to receive Rare Genetic Disorders research grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Thursday February 28, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Brenda Gallie to receive Collaborative Leadership Research Grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Wednesday February 27, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Eugene Hwang to receive Rare Cancers research grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Tuesday February 26, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Alberto Japp to receive Rare Autoimmune and Immunological Disorders research grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Tuesday February 26, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Brian Sworder to receive Rare Blood Disorders research grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Monday February 25, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Dr. Elizabeth Harrington to receive Rare Muscular and Neurological Disorders grant at 2019 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring
Posted on Monday February 25, 2019
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
Eleven NFL prospects join 2019 Reps For Rare Diseases campaign for NFL Combine
Posted on Tuesday February 19, 2019
For the fifth consecutive year, Uplifting Athletes is empowering NFL prospects with the opportunity to use the NFL Combine as a platform to give back by raising funds and awareness in support of the Rare Disease Community. The Reps For Rare Diseases Campaign is one of the first opportunities for these athletes to create an […] Continue Reading »

Key Leadership

Chapter Leaders

NC State - Thomas Ruocchio
Penn State - Ryan Bates
Penn State - Steven Gonzalez
Clemson - Kyle Cote
Colgate - Owen Buscaglia
Davidson - George Hatalowich
Florida State - Alec Eberle
Illinois - Nick Allegretti
Maryland - Avery Edwards
Northwestern - Tommy Doles
Notre Dame - Jimmy Thompson
Penn - Cooper Gardner
Princeton - Kurt Holuba
Saint Francis - Mike Ames
Stony Brook - Marc Nolan
Syracuse - Sam Heckel
Western Michigan - Jamauri Bogan

Staff

Scott Shirley/Founder & Strategic Advisor
Rob Long/Executive Director
Brett Brackett/General Manager
Andy Shay/Director of Communications
John Trzeciak/Business Manager
Karen Kirkpatrick/Director of Finance

Board

Scott Shirley/Founder & Strategic Advisor
Keith Deaven
David Wozniak
Kerwin Stetler
Tiffini Grimes

UA Lettermen

Obi Egekeze
Obi Egekeze
Chris Borland
Jake Smith
Jake Smith
Jeff Wasilewski
Jeff Wasilewski
Mark Herzlich
Mark Herzlich
Brett Brackett

#WeTackleRare

Corporate Champions

Deloitte
Strongbridge
CSL Behring
Mediabarn