The Brunswick School football program teamed up with Uplifting Athletes to host its second annual Lift for Life event on Thursday, July 31. By the end of the lift, the team had raised an impressive $40,000 — all of which will go directly toward rare disease research. The donation page will remain open for a little while longer, and since some contributions are tied to the number of reps completed, that total is expected to grow in the coming weeks.

In 2025, out of all the college athletic programs across the country that have partnered with Uplifting Athletes and taken part in a Lift for Life event, only two have reached the milestone of raising $40,000 or more — and Brunswick is proud to be one of them. This achievement places the football program among the most impactful in the nation when it comes to supporting rare disease research — reflecting the commitment, effort, and heart of our student-athletes, coaches, families, and community.

Uplifting Athletes was founded in 2003 by former Penn State football player Scott Shirley, who was inspired by his own family's experience with rare disease. What began as a summer strength and conditioning session transformed into a nationally recognized fundraiser that now empowers athletes across the country to use their platform in the fight against rare diseases.

Brunswick alumnus and former Princeton football player Harrison Caponiti ’18 introduced the initiative to the Bruins in the summer of 2024, making Brunswick one of the first high school football teams in the country to participate in Lift for Life, an event historically limited to college programs. Despite just over a week of planning, the team raised $26,100 in its first year, topping every participating college football team. This summer, the program shattered that mark in its second year of participation.

To honor the team's efforts, Brett Brackett, President of Uplifting Athletes and a former NFL and Penn State tight end, visited campus to meet the team and personally thank them for their incredible impact over the past two years.

“The most incredible thing about Uplifting Athletes and Lift for Life is that it doesn’t stop here,” said Head Coach Wayne McGillicuddy. “Our guys are going off to college and continuing to lead the charge at the next level.”

Brunswick alumni have brought this mission with them to their college programs:

• Hunter Clark ’22, a redshirt junior at Boston College, now serves as BC’s Chapter President and helped restart their Lift for Life, where fellow alumni Jadon Lafontant ’23, Caden Bowling ’23, and Max Tejpaul ’25 participated alongside him.
• Former captains Will Janis ’22 and Tyler Georgs ’25 reunited at Holy Cross this summer and took part in their Lift for Life after Georgs helped launch Brunswick’s first event.
• Most recently, Matty Augustine ’25, Blake Hebert ’25, and Ethan Long ’25 participated in Notre Dame’s event, where Augustine was Notre Dame’s top individual fundraiser.

For more information or to support the cause, visit  https://www.upliftingathletes.org/ or https://charity.pledgeit.org/brunswicklfl25.