Illinois

Earlier this year, Uplifting Athletes partnered with 56 NFL prospects to give them their first opportunity to share their new platform as professional athletes to inspire others with hope and to support the Rare Disease Community. When the stakes were the highest in their football lives, these NFL prospects made a choice to pledge their […] Continue Reading »

Former University of Illinois star offensive lineman Nick Allegretti was awarded the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor recently as part of the annual Fighting Illini Oskee Awards celebration. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating […] Continue Reading »

During a pivotal time in their football lives, more than 50 NFL prospects used their first opportunities as professional athletes to give back. The Uplifting Athletes 2019 Reps For Rare Diseases showcased these athletes in a month-long campaign that kicked off in late February with the NFL Combine and ran through March with individual NFL […] Continue Reading »

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 »

The essential core of the Uplifting Leaders program is the college football student-athletes that steer our chapters at universities across the country. This past weekend more than 40 individual leaders from 20 college football programs traveled to Atlanta for the 10th annual Leadership Development Conference. The three-day conference was hosted by Uplifting Athletes, and run […] Continue Reading »

The bedrock of the Uplifting Leaders program at Uplifting Athletes is the college football student-athletes that guide our nationwide network of chapters. These student-athletes already have the drive and passion to help others and that is why they chose to step up and become chapter leaders to help us serve the Rare Disease Community. In […] Continue Reading »

May your days be filled with Peace, Hope and Joy this Holiday Season! On behalf of the 30 million Americans that comprise the Rare Disease Community, our staff and team of college football student-athletes thank you for your loyalty and support in 2018!  It has been a memorable year and we thank you for helping […] Continue Reading »

We are proud to share that five NFL players have chosen to shine a spotlight on the rare disease cause with their cleats. The NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats kicked off this week and Uplifting Athletes cleats will be worn in NFL games by Cameron Lynch, Riley Dixon, Malik Turner, Garry Gilliam and Zaire […] Continue Reading »

The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award, part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), is given annually to a leader in college football who has realized his or her potential to make a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community. We afforded each finalist for the 11th Rare Disease Champion Award […] Continue Reading »

Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Malik Turner is passionate about the rare disease cause. He took part in Lift For Life as a member of the Illinois Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Turner also supported his cause by participating in the Uplifting Athletes Reps For Rare Diseases campaign for his NFL Pro Day. It was during […] Continue Reading »