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Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization which harnesses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of those affected byrare diseases. The group was established in 2003 and is a501(c)(3).
The organization was founded in 2003 by a group ofPenn State Nittany Lions football players who turned an annualweightlifting competition, Lift for Life, into afundraiser.Wide receiver Scott Shirley's father was diagnosed withkidney 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 andcenter 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]
Uplifting Athletes' founding chapter is atPenn State University. The football team there has designated theKidney Cancer Association as their charity. To date the team has raised over $300,000 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 asbench press and the "giant tire flip."[3]
Subsequent chapters have formed at other universities. Some of the earlier chapters to form include:
In 2009, the Penn State and University of Maryland chapters of Uplifting Athletes hosted events forRare Disease Day.[4]
In June 2010, for the first time in Uplifting Athletes History, leaders of all current chapters met inHarrisburg, 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]
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]