About
Uplifting people, uplifting the world.
Vision & Mission
UPLFFT’s vision is “uplifting people, uplifting the world.” Our mission is to promote uplifting talents and goodwill to all. We are part of UP Project Inc., a Rotary-inspired 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supported by subscriptions and donations.
Why UPLFFT?
To help event planners find uplifting, family-friendly talents – speakers, entertainers, artists, etc.. Also... To promote goodwill, as a foundation for every good work. To address the mental health crisis and drug epidemic. To foster love, joy, peace, and hope.
Will you help UPLFFT?
Some of our talents reach 50,000 people per year. Imagine 100 or 1,000 reaching 5 million or 50 million people per year with goodwill! To this end, we are seeking subscribers and partners to realize this vision and get the word out.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
–Theodor Seuss Geisel
Meet the Board
Nels Ross Cremean
President
Nels has worked internationally as a speaker, educator (MEd), entertainer, and teaching artist for 20+ years. He is co-founder of UPLFFT, along with Richie Derwald and Dr. Catherine Ansuini. His passion for “edutainment” was largely inspired by his mom, who was a mime and fire eater, and friend Andrew Barden, who inspired much silliness including their tour with a nonprofit circus.
Richie Derwald
Vice President
Richie is “The Mental Health NUT,” a singer, songwriter, impersonator, actor, and producer who promotes Nurturing Uplifting Thinking (NUT). He overcame his fear of stuttering to become a speaker, and now helps people battle depression, find comfort through creativity, and build each other up. Also, he used to be a pro wrestler, so he knows about “ups and downs.”
Dr. Catherine Ansuini
Founding Member
“Dr. Kate” is a SUNY-Buffalo State award-winning professor, as well as a recognized speaker, author, researcher, and trainer on wellness. She is best known for her humorous and energetic delivery of timely, accurate, and relatable information – including the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of humor and positivity. In short, she’s darn smart and funny.
Dr. Kofi Fynn-Aikins
Board Member
Kofi is a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manager, who provided leadership on scientific and technical matters, community outreach, and education. Now he is President of Hope for Sisi’s Kids (hosikids.org), an NGO serving an underprivileged school in Ghana; he started Center of the World Tours to support this work. He also served as Co-President of the Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise.
Dr. Kevin Crosby
Treasurer/Secretary
Kevin earned his PhD in Instructional Communications from SUNY Buffalo, and is a partner at Full Circle Studios – a digital media company in western New York. He is a member, and Past President, of the Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise. He has served in many roles with Rotary training and leadership, and has received the Paul Harris Fellow recognition five times.
In Memory Of...
