Skip to content
Uplifting Athletes Logo
Donate
MENU

Mission:
Inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport


Vision:
Empower people to take action against rare diseases and be a catalyst for the medical community to find cures

  • About Us
    • About Uplifting Athletes
    • Key Leadership
    • Our Why
    • College Chapters
    • Corporate Champions
    • Contact Us
  • Our Programs
    • Rare Disease Research
      • Young Investigator Draft
    • Uplifting Experiences
      • Events
    • Rare Disease Awareness
      • My Cause, My Cleats
      • Rare Disease Champion
      • Uplifting News/UA Blog
    • Uplifting Leaders
      • Lift For Life
      • Reps For Rare Diseases
      • Team UA
      • Touchdown Pledge Drive
      • UA Ambassadors

Kent State

Chapter Established in 2019
Life Time Total $

Uplifting Athletes 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.

Kent State

Uplifting Athletes 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

Fundraising Initiatives

Kent State Lift For Life 2019
$464.83 Amount Raised
3 Campaigns
View Results

News & Past Events

2020 Rare Disease Champion Team: Learn more about Northwestern defensive tackle Joe Spivak and what his inspiration means to a rare disease patient
Posted on Friday February 12, 2021
Joe Spivak University: Northwestern University Vitals: 6-0, 300 pounds, senior, defensive lineman Quick Hits: 2020: A natural leader, Joe was a three-time captain in high school, becoming the first sophomore football player chosen as a captain at Esmark High School in Chicago. Joe has appeared in 36 games for the Wildcats since his true freshman […] Continue Reading »
2020 Rare Disease Champion Team: Learn more about Austin Peay defensive lineman Josephus Smith’s rare courage and commitment
Posted on Thursday February 11, 2021
Josephus Smith University: Austin Peay State University Vitals: 5-9, 285 pounds, senior, defensive tackle Quick Hits: Josephus had a breakout 2019 in his second season with APSU after transferring from Miles College in Alabama. The three-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors after posting 18.5 tackles for a […] Continue Reading »
2020 Rare Disease Champion Team: Learn more about Stanford head coach David Shaw and the rare bond with his younger brother
Posted on Wednesday February 10, 2021
David Shaw University: Stanford University Vitals: Head Football Coach Quick Hits: The 1995 Stanford graduate is the fifth alum to hold the position of head football coach. David is the 34th head coach in program history and just completed his 10th season at his alma mater. He is the winningest coach in program history with […] Continue Reading »
2020 Rare Disease Champion Team: Learn more about Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper overcoming his rare cancer battle to shine on the field
Posted on Tuesday February 09, 2021
Rex Culpepper University: Syracuse University Vitals: 6-3, 221 pounds, senior, quarterback Quick Hits: A native of Florida who has a vast arsenal of talents and interests off the field, Rex persevered to become the Orange starting quarterback the second half of the 2020 season. The three-time ACC Honor Roll and seven-time SU Athletic Director’s Honor […] Continue Reading »
2020 Rare Disease Champion Team: Learn more about Syracuse punter Nolan Cooney using his experience as a rare cancer survivor to inspire hope
Posted on Monday February 08, 2021
Nolan Cooney University: Syracuse University Vitals: 6-3, 202 pounds, senior, punter Quick Hits: Nolan had a rare cancer scare in high school that gave him a different perspective on patience and made waiting four years to become the No. 1 punter for the Orange no problem. The four-time ACC Honor Roll and six-time Syracuse Athletic […] Continue Reading »
Chapter Update: Northwestern finishes off magical year with a victory and three other teams close out 2020 season
Posted on Monday January 04, 2021
Northwestern capped off a memorable 2020 season by winning its fourth consecutive bowl game with a victory over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl. The Big Ten West champions used an offensive explosion that produced the most passing (291) and total yards (457) this season. Wildcats linebacker Paddy Fisher posted a game-high 12 tackles to become […] Continue Reading »
Chapter Update: Clemson claims sixth straight ACC crown and Penn State finishes strong to highlight Week 15
Posted on Monday December 21, 2020
Clemson continued its dominance of the ACC, winning its sixth consecutive outright Conference title by controlling fellow chapter school Notre Dame in the championship game. Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who improved to 34-1 as a starter, was named game MVP on the strength of his 412 total yards (322 passing, 90 rushing) and three touchdowns. […] Continue Reading »
Meet the five inspiring leaders on the 2020 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team
Posted on Monday December 21, 2020
Uplifting Athletes is pleased to announce the 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team. For more than a dozen years, Uplifting Athletes has celebrated leaders in college football that have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community through its Rare Disease Champion initiative. The five members of the 2020 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease […] Continue Reading »
Carrying the burden of a rare genetic gene drove Seth Rotberg to a life helping others
Posted on Friday December 18, 2020
He was just 20 years old when he learned his future would be cut short by the same disease that was robbing life from his mother. Seth Rotberg carried that burden alone, until a pair of tragedies showed him the time he had left was best spent honestly and in service to others.  A decade […] Continue Reading »
Beyond The Trophy 2020: Get to know Penn Chapter Vice President and linebacker Brian O’Neill
Posted on Thursday December 17, 2020
Each week during the college football season we will feature a player who is an officer for an Uplifting Athletes Chapter for our Beyond the Trophy series. Name: Brian O’Neill College: University of Pennsylvania Height, weight, class, position: 6-2, 240-pound, senior, linebacker High School: West Essex Regional High School in Roseland, New Jersey About Brian: […] Continue Reading »

Chapter Leadership

Current Chapter Leaders

Antwan Dixon President
Isaac Vance Vice President

#WeTackleRare

Thu, 02/25/2021 - 00:09
@ UpliftingAth
Thanks for making a big statement for the #RareDiseaseCommunity on #RareDiseaseDay2021!! & special thanks to EIU…
Wed, 02/24/2021 - 22:57
@ UpliftingAth
Hey @syracusedotcom, as we approach #RareDiseaseDay, thank you for publishing this letter from former @CuseFootball…
Wed, 02/24/2021 - 14:57
@ UpliftingAth
Each year, our chapters participate in our Touchdown Pledge Drive campaign. The campaign makes a push to bring much…
Tue, 02/23/2021 - 17:06
@ UpliftingAth
RT @Rose_of_Sharon8: Congratulations @RobLong47! Rare Impact Award! Fantastic to see a hard working adult diagnosed with #raredisease recog…
Tue, 02/23/2021 - 15:20
@ UpliftingAth
More than two dozen college football teams across the country participate each year in our signature chapter event…
Mon, 02/22/2021 - 14:13
@ UpliftingAth
Uplifting Athtetes is proud to introduce our Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine initiative, aimed at raising…
Sat, 02/20/2021 - 14:15
@ UpliftingAth
The support of 23 student-athlete led college football chapters help Uplifting Athletes raise much-needed awareness…
Fri, 02/19/2021 - 14:05
@ UpliftingAth
A huge thank you to global therapeutics leader @CSLBehring for serving as the lead sponsor since the inception of o…
Thu, 02/18/2021 - 15:00
@ UpliftingAth
Since our first Young Investigator Draft, more than $300K in grant funding for #RareDiseaseResearch has been awarde…
Wed, 02/17/2021 - 15:45
@ UpliftingAth
#RareDiseaseResearch is limited due to the lack of financial incentive to make and market new treatments for small…
Tue, 02/16/2021 - 14:15
@ UpliftingAth
#RareDiseases affect 1 in 10 Americans. Approximately half of patients affected are children. Our Young Investigato…
Mon, 02/15/2021 - 17:15
@ UpliftingAth
We invite you to join us virtually on March 30, 2021 at 8:00 pm when sports and science collide at our Young Invest…
Fri, 02/12/2021 - 19:25
@ UpliftingAth
@JoeSpivak here is a special congratulations from @Purrfectly_Rare and some more of your friends in the…
Fri, 02/12/2021 - 19:25
@ UpliftingAth
Our final 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team member, @JoeSpivak of @NUFBFamily, has taken advocating for rare diseases…
Thu, 02/11/2021 - 20:29
@ UpliftingAth
And a congratulations from a few special people! #WeTackleRare
Thu, 02/11/2021 - 20:28
@ UpliftingAth
While finding success on the field and in the classroom, 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team member, Josephus Smith of…
Thu, 02/11/2021 - 13:35
@ UpliftingAth
Join us in wishing @PENNfb Chapter President @ben_padon a Happy Birthday!! 🎁 #WeTackleRare
Wed, 02/10/2021 - 19:23
@ UpliftingAth
A special congratulations from Eric Shaw to his brother, 2020 Rare Disease Champion Team member, @CoachDavidShaw

Uplifting Athletes Chapters

Lehigh University
Northern Arizona University
Wisconsin
South Carolina
Western Michigan
Davidson
Ohio State
Washington
Syracuse
Stony Brook
Saint Francis
Princeton
Penn State
Penn
Notre Dame
Northwestern
Nebraska
NC State
Maryland
Illinois
Georgia Tech
Fordham
Colgate
Florida State
Boston College
Arizona
Clemson
  • Sponsorship
  • Donate Now
  • Contact Us
GUIDESTAR Exchange Gold

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sign Up

@ 2021 Uplifting Athletes, Inc. •
All Rights Reserved •
Uplifting Athletes is a 501(c)3
tax exempt organization

 

Uplifting Athletes Logo