237. From NFL to Non-Profit: Tackling Rare Diseases with Brett Brackett

“[Rare Diseases Research] deserves to be celebrated the same way that we celebrate athletes and sports in this country.”

“Giving is the greatest form of getting.”

“You always have a chance to positively impact other people, it's just a matter of what you do with the moments you have.”

 

Episode summary |

In this episode of ROG, Shannon Cassidy interviews Brett Brackett, the executive director of Uplifting Athletes, who shares his journey from being a college and NFL athlete to leading a nonprofit focused on supporting the rare disease community. Brett discusses the importance of generosity, the impact of rare diseases, and how Uplifting Athletes engages college athletes in philanthropy. He emphasizes the power of community, the significance of research in rare diseases, and the misconceptions surrounding athletes. The conversation highlights the importance of using one's platform for good and the profound impact of giving back.

 

R.O.G. Takeaway Tips |

• Generosity can take many forms, including time, talent, and treasure.
• The average path to diagnosis for rare diseases is 3-5 years.
• One in ten Americans is affected by a rare disease.
• Uplifting Athletes hosts events to raise awareness and funds for rare diseases.
• The Young Investigator Draft celebrates researchers in rare disease research.
• Athletes often use their platforms to give back to the community.
• Misconceptions about athletes often overlook their generosity and impact.
• Success is defined individually, not by external standards.

 

Chapters | 

00:00 Introduction to Generosity and Leadership

02:27 Brett Brackett's Journey from Athlete to Advocate

05:32 The Importance of Family and Support Systems

07:27 Uplifting Athletes: Mission and Impact

12:26 Understanding Rare Diseases

16:14 Events and Community Engagement

20:28 Stories of Generosity and Giving Back

25:14 The Power of Generosity

30:20 Misconceptions About Athletes

31:49 The Penn State Experience

33:49 Impacting Lives Through Generosity

35:18 Lessons from Football and Life

39:19 Leadership and Personal Growth

 

Guest Bio |

Brett Brackett is a New Jersey native whose passion for helping others has guided him to make a lasting impact on the rare disease community. Through his athletic career and now with Uplifting Athletes, Brett has used the platform of sport to inspire hope, raise awareness, and drive change for those impacted by rare diseases.

 

An exceptional athlete, Brett transitioned from being a top-rated quarterback in high school to a standout wide receiver and co-captain at Penn State, where he earned degrees in Marketing and Economics. His professional football career saw him thrive as an undrafted tight end with teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks.

 

In 2017, Brett joined Uplifting Athletes full-time as Chapter Success Manager, where his leadership and experience in sports helped expand the organization’s reach. His deep commitment and strategic vision led him to step into an organizational leadership role in 2018. Since then the organization has funded over $1.2 million in rare disease research grants, hosted over 2,000 individuals impacted by rare disease for one-of-kind Uplifting Experiences and developed 450 student-athletes who have been trained to serve people impacted by rare diseases through Uplifting Athletes’ programming. 

Brett lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Jamie and their four children.

 

Guest Resources: