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Mission:
Harness the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.


Vision:
No person impacted by a rare disease feels alone and everyone is inspired with hope for the future.

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Northwestern

Chapter Established in 2011
Life Time Total $80,081.37

Uplifting Athletes Mission

Harness the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.

Northwestern

Chapter Leadership

Current Chapter Leaders

Peter Snodgrass
President
Peter Snodgrass
President

Peter Snodgrass has been inspiring the Rare Disease Community for more than three years in a leadership role for the Northwestern Chapter and is the Chapter President. Peter has been instrumental in continuing a strong tradition of outstanding football student-athlete leaders for the Wildcats. He attended the Leadership Development Conference in 2018 and 2019, learning to become a stronger voice and inspiration to the Rare Disease Community.

“Uplifting Athletes is the first time I have been able to use my voice as a student-athlete to help others. Watching my brothers rally around the Rare Disease Community is truly THE most inspiring experience I have had at Northwestern. As a leader of our chapter, I have seen first hand the value that my teammates and I can give to the Rare Disease Community.”

A native of Palo Alto, California, Peter was a four-year captain during his high school years and played linebacker, center and long snapper. The fourth-year player is a long snapper for the Wildcats and made his collegiate debut in 2019, appearing in three games. The economics major and former Eagle Scout and President’s Gold Award honoree for community service has a heart for giving back.

Official Northwestern Bio

Joe Spivak
Vice President
Joe Spivak
Vice President

Joe Spivak joined the leadership team of Northwestern’s Uplifting Athletes’ Chapter in 2018, serving as the chapter Vice President in 2019. Joe attended the 2019 Leadership Development Conference and became passionate about the rare disease cause. He helped guide the Northwestern Chapter to successful Lift for Life events in 2019 and 2021. For his passionate work engaging with the rare disease patient community and his commitment to the cause, Joe was named to the 2020 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team. 

”I love football... but even more than that, I love the relationships that football has brought into my life. I believe that Uplifting Athletes is extending these unbreakable bonds into a community that needs them more than ever,” Northwestern Chapter Vice President Joe Spivak said. “I think most of the guys all agree that the money we raise is awesome, but to be able to serve as an example and extension of FAMILY to these families is what is really awesome! Uplifting Athletes brings us all together on the same team.”

The defensive tackle saw action as a true freshman in 2017, appeared in 22 games the next two seasons as a back-up before becoming a starter the second game of the 2020 season during the Wildcats’ run to the Big Ten West title. 

Official Northwestern Bio

Uplifting Athletes Programs

Rare Disease Research

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

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Uplifting Leaders

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

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Uplifting Leaders
Rare Disease Awareness

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

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Uplifting Experiences

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

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Uplifting Experiences

Fundraising Initiatives

Northwestern Football Lift For Life 2022
$6,258.19 Amount Raised
2 Campaigns
View Results
Northwestern Touchdown Pledge Drive 2019
$360.00 Amount Raised
Campaigns
View Results

News & Past Events

#WeTackleRare

Wed, 02/08/2023 - 14:00
@ UpliftingAth
Thank you to everyone who helped make the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗧 a truly memorable one! #WeTackleRare
Sat, 02/04/2023 - 19:44
@ UpliftingAth
RT @CameronLynch50: 🎤 Emcee for the @UpliftingAth #YoungInvestigatorDraft to raise awareness and celebrate for rare disease research 🔬! Tun…
Sat, 02/04/2023 - 19:43
@ UpliftingAth
Elevating, celebrating, and funding game-changing researchers #YID23 #WeTackleRare
Sat, 02/04/2023 - 18:16
@ UpliftingAth
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗧 Almost showtime here in Philadelphia! The draft is set to begin at 7:00pm LIVESTR…
Sat, 02/04/2023 - 17:37
@ UpliftingAth
It’s game time! The 2023 Young Investigator Draft is happening now. #WeTackleRare #YID23
Sat, 02/04/2023 - 17:08
@ UpliftingAth
Thank you to our 2023 Young Investigator Draft Sponsors! We’re beyond grateful for your support and commitment to o…
Tue, 01/10/2023 - 15:54
@ UpliftingAth
𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒: 10 Emerging Scientists Score Research Grants Totaling $200,000 Elite athletes and scientists will stand shou…
Tue, 01/10/2023 - 15:25
@ UpliftingAth
@PennMedNews @PennMedicine Thank you for sharing our news and congratulations to Dr. Sande, Dr. Mumau, and Dr. Felix! #WeTackleRare
Tue, 01/10/2023 - 15:23
@ UpliftingAth
@RarePOV @GRIN2Bsyndrome @TeamTelomereInc @CureCastleman @curestxbp1 @CureHIBM Thank you for sharing our news today @RarePOV! #WeTackleRare
Mon, 01/09/2023 - 10:58
@ UpliftingAth
@UMSOMPostdocs Thank you for helping promote this awesome event! #WeTackleRare For those interested in attending t…
Fri, 01/06/2023 - 17:40
@ UpliftingAth
This week, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Orphan Drug Act and the progress it has made for developi…
Wed, 01/04/2023 - 14:24
@ UpliftingAth
𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 Save up to 35% for the '23 Young Investigator Draft! Join us for a night which hon…
Tue, 01/03/2023 - 15:06
@ UpliftingAth
@BuffaloBills Our thoughts are with the @HamlinIsland family and @BuffaloBills. 💙
Fri, 12/30/2022 - 18:02
@ UpliftingAth
Uplifting Experiences put our mission into motion. In November, @RileyTDixon92 and the @RamsNFL welcomed a couple o…
Thu, 12/29/2022 - 13:14
@ UpliftingAth
@JDBertrand1 @Allstate @WeAreAFCA @dosomething @NDFootball Congratulations @JDBertrand1! We're proud to have you on…
Tue, 12/27/2022 - 16:12
@ UpliftingAth
𝗨𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Matthew Breeggemann is combining his experience as a rare kidney patient and his expertise as a kid…
Tue, 12/20/2022 - 15:26
@ UpliftingAth
This year we've expanded our programs and grown our community to support people impacted by #RareDiseases in astron…
Fri, 12/16/2022 - 10:12
@ UpliftingAth
@NaomiDirckx Thank you!

Uplifting Athletes Chapters

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