Uplifting Athletes

Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization of current American college football players, benefiting those with rare diseases. The group was established in 2003 and is a 501(c)3.

The organization was founded in 2003 by a group of Penn State Nittany Lions football players who turned an annual weightlifting competition into a fundraiser. Wide receiver Scott Shirley's father was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2003. When Shirley turned to his teammates for support, he discovered three others also had fathers battling the disease. Because so few (less than 200,000) Americans are diagnosed with kidney cancer, funds to fight the disease are scarce.^[1] Two of Shirley's teammates, offensive tackle Damone Jones and center Dave Costlow, saw an opportunity for student-athletes to use their high-profile and access to the media to promote awareness and raise funds for under-served charities. The three formed Uplifting Athletes later that year.^[2]

Chapters

Uplifting Athletes' founding chapter is at Penn State University. The football team there has designated the Kidney Cancer Association as their charity. To date the team has raised over $300,000 dollars for that charity. The Penn State chapter raises funds through its annual weight-lifting competition, Lift for Life.^[2] The competition features teams of four players competing in 11 strength and conditioning events, such as bench press and the "giant tire flip."^[3]

Subsequent chapters have formed at other Universities. Some of the earlier chapters to form include:

A chapter at Boston College benefiting Ewing's sarcoma
One at Colgate University benefiting Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
A chapter at the University of Maryland benefiting cystic fibrosis.
A chapter at Ohio State University has also chosen to support the Kidney Cancer Association. Members of OSU's football team hold a video game tournament to support the cause.
There are also chapters and events in other states, from Florida to California.

In 2009, the Penn State and University of Maryland chapters of Uplifting Athletes hosted events for Rare Disease Day.^[4]

In June 2010, for the first time in Uplifting Athletes History, leaders of all current chapters met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the offices of Uplifting Athletes for a conference to share ideas and learn how to improve the performance of their chapters. The student-athletes learned from industry experts and guest lecturers about such things a better decision making, budgeting, and marketing.^[5]

Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion

Since 2009, Uplifting Athletes has honored a member of the college football community who makes a profound and lasting impact on the rare disease community with its Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion award:^[6]

Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association
Ian Mitchell, quarterback for Dickinson College
Jordan Culbreath, running back, Princeton University
Rex Burkhead, running back, University of Nebraska
Eric Shrive, offensive lineman, Penn State
C.J. Zimmerer, fullback, University of Nebraska
Sammie Coates, wide receiver, Auburn University

References

↑ "Rare Diseases and Related Terms". National Institute of Health Office of Rare Diseases. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
1 2 "Uplifting Athletes". Scott Shirley, Uplifting Athletes. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
↑ "Lift for Life". Lift for Life. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
↑ "Uplifting Athletes Tackling Video Tourney". Scout.com. February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
↑ http://upliftingathletes.org/uplifting-athletes-news/uplifting-athletes-leadership-conference-set-june-12-13
↑ http://www.upliftingathletes.org/rare-disease-champion

Armas, Genaro C. (July 10, 2009). "Penn State charity gets lift from Buckeyes, others". USA Today. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
Whiteside, Kelly (September 25, 2009). "Pooch kicks & pancakes: Penn State aiming to bind, blind Iowa". USA Today. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
Golen, Jimmy (January 21, 2010). "BC linebacker Herzlich back after cancer recovery". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)

Penn State Nittany Lions football

Venues	Old Main lawn (until 1891) Beaver Field (1892–1908) New Beaver Field (1909–1959) Beaver Stadium (1960–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama Maryland Michigan State Minnesota Ohio State Pittsburgh Syracuse West Virginia

Culture & lore	Nittany Lion "Fight On, State" Penn State Blue Band Uplifting Athletes Joe Paterno statue Something for Joey 1982 Nebraska game

People	Head coaches All-Americans Statistical leaders NFL draftees

Seasons	1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

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