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January 12, 20112630 viewsOn December 30th, Ben announced the ninth and final grant of the 2010 season outside of the Pittsburgh area. The grant was awarded to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department (CMHAPD), located in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department will use the grant to purchase much needed detection training supplies and protection equipment for their K-9 unit. The funds will help fill a void in the department left by the loss of Kubo, CMHA’s three-year old police dog, who died on September 27, 2010 during a training exercise.
Shown in the photo: Officer John Smiddy with Chewbacca and Officer Jeffery Holdeman with Loki. They are posing with CMHA's Marketing Manager, Courtney Kilbury.
*Thank you to Jessica at The Giving Back Fund.
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April 8, 2016 - The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at work1211 viewsOn October 22nd 2015, Ben announced a grant to the Shawnee Police Department in Kansas.
“I’m proud to call the City of Shawnee my home, and wake up every day with pride that I get to serve the citizens of the greater Kansas City area. I’ve been a K-9 handler for five years. It’s a position that I have always wanted to hold, dating back to the days I served in the United States Army. I’ve seen our unit grow from one to two K-9 teams within the last seven years. We knew we could serve the area better with a
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April 8, 2016 - The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at work971 viewsOn October 22nd 2015, Ben announced a grant to the Shawnee Police Department in Kansas.
With this grant, the Shawnee Police Department was able to expand their unit from two to three K-9s which now gives them a dual purpose explosive team.
“The addition of a new canine to our unit will greatly expand the capabilities of these officers and the services they provide our citizens. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation in helping keep Shawnee a safe community. Being a native of Pittsburgh and a huge Steelers fan to this day, makes this grant award that much sweeter. The Shawnee Police Department continues to be grateful for the generosity of Big Ben!!†— Shawnee Chief of Police Rob Moser.
*Thank you so much to Chief Moser for sharing these great photos with us!
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July 25, 2012 - Seargeant Joe Stanton & Mako1548 viewsThe vest this K9 is wearing was purchased with funds donated by The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!
From the Facebook page of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, MD (thank you to Jim Johnson, Jr):
Sergeant Joe Stanton, head of the Sheriff's Office Canine Section, and his partner Mako have been a team since he began his training when he was a puppy in 2005. This award winning canine team graduated from patrol and explosive school and have been partners since 2006. Sergeant Stanton is one of the leading Explosive Instructors and trainers here in Montgomery County as well as Statewide and has been the Canine supervisor at the Sheriff's Office since 1999.
Mako is trained in patrol as well as explosives detection. Mako and Sergeant Stanton respond regularly and assist the Montgomery County Police canine Section with calls for service to include: robberies, bomb threats, burglaries, and domestic violence calls. They were also one of the first responders during the hostage incident at the Discovery Channel building in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Sergeant Stanton oversees the training and qualifications not just for Mako but for all four of the Sheriff's Office Canine handlers and their amazing partners. Sgt Stanton displays tremendous dedication to his profession and his genuine care for all of the canine dogs and the handlers.
Sergeant Stanton was recently instrumental in the Sheriff's Office receiving 2 separate grants from Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's Foundation for K9 equipment, to include ballistic vests for all Sheriff's Office dogs. Way to go Joe!!
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March 26, 2014: Santo1147 views“Officer Fritsch is heading to Indiana with Santo this weekend for the start of K9 training! We are very excited to have another K9 to help us in our efforts to combat the influx of drugs in our community. In addition, we are extremely grateful for the grant opportunity through the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Budgets are so tight and the funding from BRF aids in accomplishing our mission.†– Captain Ben Bliven, Wausau Police Department, to us on March 28, 2014.
From WSAU News in Wisconsin:
Santo_OfficerFritsch_WausauPD_1Wausau Police officers have a new K-9 helper. Captain Ben Bliven says the new four-legged officer was brought to Wausau last weekend for his initial orientation. “Santo is our newest addition to the police department. He is a two-and-a-half year old German Shepherd, and his partner will be Shawn Fritsch, who is our newest canine handler.â€
Santo and officer Shawn Fritsch will be leaving this weekend for Denver, Indiana to train for six weeks before going on patrol together.
It costs police departments anywhere from ten to thirteen thousand dollars to acquire new K-9’s. Bliven says Santo was purchased with a grant they received from a professional football player’s foundation that focuses on police dogs. “We were able to purchase Santo with the funding that we received from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation grant that we received back in December.â€
Wausau PD
@WausauPD has a new K9, Santo. Thanks @_BigBen7 for the grant for our newest drug-fighting force! #Steely_Santo
“Welcome SANTO to our department. Ofc Shawn Fritsch picked him up from Denver, Indiana, Von Liche Kennels on Sunday. Thanks to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for the funding to help improve our community.†– Posted by the Wausau (MI) Police Department on their official Facebook page, March 26, 2014.
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Remembering Rocco 1028 views"The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation started when a police K-9 was shot and killed where I grew up, in Findlay, OH. My family and I were moved by what that dog meant to the police force, and learned that similar K-9′s all over the country are helping to keep our communities safe. This last week, a K-9 officer named Rocco was killed in my current hometown of Pittsburgh. After talking with officer Phil Lerza and getting his blessing, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation would like to announce that we are going to get Officer Lerza a new dog. Rocco can never be replaced, but we only hope to help with the healing process and to provide Officer Lerza with another loyal partner." -- Ben, February 10, 2014
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Ben's Foundation at work1868 viewsFrom an article on February 23, 2011 at KTAR News in Phoenix:
The Phoenix Fire Department's urban search and rescue team will not go to New Zealand to help with earthquake recovery, but the team still spent Wednesday morning training its search dogs to deal with disasters.
A firefighter was lowered into a hole under concrete rubble in Tempe and it was up to a black lab named Big Ben -- after Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- to find the trapped man.
"Ben Roethlisberger actually donated dog food for a year and 15 annual physicals for our dogs," said Fire Capt. John Dean.
He noted Big Ben found his man in a matter of seconds, while it could have taken firefighters minutes or hours.
"Even with all the technology we have -- and we embrace it, we're always looking for new ideas and new things -- you just can't beat that dog and their nose, and they're nice to have around, too."
Photo and story: Jim Cross
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January 6, 2020 - Make no bones about it!638 viewsK9 Onyx has a message to share with Steelers Nation:
"When I’m at work in Virginia as a Fairfax County Police K9, I’m all business! As a matter of fact, I’m kind of a big deal around the office water bowl – I have my own K9 collector card…."
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January 6, 2020 - Make no bones about it!618 views"But when I’m off duty, I can always be found wearing my Steelers collar! Even when my team isn’t playing, I’m supporting them, and Big Ben? Yeah, he’s my TOP DOG! He and his foundation are positively PAWSOME, I mean AWESOME! Can’t wait to see you back on the field, number 7!
"Oh, my photos were submitted by my partner, Officer Mike Pzizzle (he’s better at using an iPhone)."
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June 9, 2014: Washington’s new police dog begins patrols 1313 viewsI’d like to introduce the City of Washington Police Department newest employee Patrolman Golem and his handler Officer Karlowsky – Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis
Thanks Washington & @_BigBen7 for contributions to reestablishing City of Washington K9 Police Unit – Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis
I’d like to introduce the City of Washington Police Department newest employee Patrolman Golem and his handler Officer Karlowsky – Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis
Thanks Washington & @_BigBen7 for contributions to reestablishing City of Washington K9 Police Unit – Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis
“The city has its first police dog since the department disbanded its K9 unit in 1997″
From Mike Jones, Washington Observer-Reporter:
Ever since he was young, Matthew Karlowsky wanted to be a police officer, his father said. Then, when he was hired as a Washington patrolman eight years ago, he set his sights on one day becoming a police dog’s handler.
His vision came to fruition Thursday night when the veteran officer and the city’s new police dog, Golem, were formally introduced during a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.
Golem, a 10-month-old German shepherd, could barely control his excitement for the ceremony, barking at times and searching for his ball in the cargo pocket of Karlowsky’s pants.
The dog was born in the Czech Republic and trained with Karlowsky for six weeks at Shallow Creek Kennels in Mercer County. Karlowsky gives Golem commands in Czech as they continue to train to hone the dog’s drug-detection and patrol skills.
Karlowsky served in the U.S. Army during the Iraq war and it was during that 14-month deployment that he wanted to work with dogs after watching military K9 handlers, his father, Rick, said.
“This boy has always wanted to be a police officer, and ever since then, he wanted to be a K9 handler,†Rick Karlowsky said.
The community raised about $47,000 the past nine months to restart the department’s K9 unit, including a $10,000 grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Mayor Brenda Davis said the community support and local business donations were instrumental in bringing back the unit, and city officials hope to expand it to two dogs by the end of the year.
“If it weren’t for the donations from the community, we wouldn’t be able to have this special swearing-in ceremony,†Davis said. “He’s ready to be a police officer.â€
More from the article:
http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20140606/NEWS01/140609681#.U5YyWfldVGg
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October 5, 2012 - Make-A-Wish: Alex Wagner1280 viewsWhen practice ended, things got even better as the players all made their way over to Wagner, talking to him, posing for pictures and signing autographs. Ben Roethlisberger took him into the locker room, and then off to his production meeting with Fox Sports where he met Troy Aikman, who is in town for the game.
“Alex loves football,†said his mom Terry Wagner. “He can’t play because of his medical condition, but he loves it more than anything in the world. This is his dream come true. It makes us so happy to see him like this.
“Since we knew this was happening, he has never been happier. He is a serious kid and this has brought the joy out of him.â€
- From an article by Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
http://blog.steelers.com/2012/10/05/nothing-but-smiles-for-this-young-fan/
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October 5, 2012 - Make-A-Wish: Alex Wagner1302 viewsOn October 5, 2012, Alex Wagner couldn’t stop smiling, and his parents even laughed at the fact that he was actually giddy, something out of character for the normally serious 14-year old.
But Wagner had good reason for being that way. What kid wouldn’t be smiling if they were a guest at Steelers’ practice and getting ready to meet the team?
Wagner, who has hypothalmic disorder, was at practice courtesy of the team and Make-A-Wish Foundation and will attend Sunday’s game against the Eagles at Heinz Field.
“There is nothing as cool as getting this close to them,†said Wagner. “It’s hard to explain. It’s hard to believe. I never expected this at all, not even a little bit. I never thought I would be able to do anything like this, but apparently it can happen.â€
– From an article by Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
http://blog.steelers.com/2012/10/05/nothing-but-smiles-for-this-young-fan/
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