Penn State Football: Lift for Life Won’t Coincide with Arts Fest This Year

For the first time since 2011, Uplifting Athlete’s marquee event at Penn State will not be held during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts

Penn State football announced on Wednesday that the 16th annual Life For Life fundraiser is slated for Saturday, June 30, beginning at 11 a.m. The event moved inside to Holuba Hall last year and will retain the location for this year’s series of competitions.

Penn State Athletics says there’s no specific reason for the change, and that Lift for Life has been held on a variety of dates not always coinciding with Arts Fest. The only times that Lift for Life hasn’t been held during Arts Fest were in 2011 and for its first event in 2003.

The Nittany Lion offense will take on the defense to benefit rare diseases with more than 80 football players expected to participate. Though Life for Life is technically free, there is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for kids. All proceeds will support the Penn State chapter of Uplifting Athletes in its commitment to life skills development, patient-focused programs, and rare disease research.

The team also will host a kids clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a $15 participation fee, kids will each receive a Lift for Life t-shirt. Players will be available for an autograph session immediately after Lift for Life in Holuba Hall, and this year’s Penn State football poster will be available.

Uplifting Athletes was founded by Penn State football alumnus Scott Shirley in 2007 after his father was diagnosed with kidney cancer; the organization now has 22 chapters with Division I football programs across the country. Offensive linemen Ryan Bates and Steven Gonzalez will serve as co-presidents for Penn State’s chapter this year.