Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/115002
LEAVING HIS MARK The president of Penn State���s Uplifting Athletes chapter, Eric Shrive, carries out the philanthropic vision of a former Nittany Lion A t first, it was a way to meet his new teammates. Maybe he would get on the good side of a few upperclassmen, or familiarize himself with the campus. And maybe, while he was at it, he would change a few lives. A top offensive line recruit coming out of West Scranton (Pa.) High, Eric Shrive was just another true freshman when he arrived at Penn State in 2009. Eager to get involved in campus life, he decided to join the Nittany Lions��� chapter of Uplifting Athletes, a national nonprofit organization that raises funds, educates the public and advocates for research into rare diseases ��� diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 Americans. Penn State���s chapter focuses specifically on kidney cancer. ���I thought it was something cool to get to know the older guys on the team,��� Shrive recalled, ���so that���s why I got involved.��� Four years and $70,000 later, Shrive has become one of the organization���s mainstays. On March 1 in Atlantic City, as part of the Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala, Shrive received the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award for 2013. It was a history-making accomplishment, as Shrive became the first active member of Uplifting Athletes to be presented with the award. The following day, he was honored again at the Uplifting Athletes Gridiron Gala in Harrisburg. RAISING THE BAR Shrive raised awareness for rare diseases during the PSU-Michigan basketball game on Feb. 27 in the Bryce Jordan Center. Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications