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Last additions - The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation |
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December 4, 2014 - Grant to Miami University Police Department1181 views“The Oxford Police Department is very fortunate to have another department (MUPD) nearby. The partnership between our agencies helps keep the entire community safe, and we look forward to upholding these high standards through joint training.†–Officer Ryan Sikora, Oxford Police Department.
*Thank you to Ritter E. Hoy for the photos!Dec 12, 2014
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December 4, 2014 - Grant to Miami University Police Department1225 viewsIn the photo: Deputy Dan Kissing, K-9 Knut and Investigator Ron Stemen of the State of Ohio Fire Marshal Office.
"The Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal would like to thank the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for their continued support of police and fire working K-9 teams. With the continued support of public and private groups, like Ben’s, the success of each K-9 team is limitless." -- Investigator Ron Stemen, State of Ohio Fire Marshal Office.
*Thank you to Ritter E. Hoy for the photos!
Dec 11, 2014
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December 4, 2014 - Grant to Miami University Police Department1055 viewsIn the photo: Patrol Officer Keith Hibbard of the Miami University Police Department and his K9 partner, Figo and in the background, Deputy U.S. Marshal Aaron Fisher (Department of Justice).
"The Miami University Police Department K-9 unit is honored to have been selected by the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation as a 2014 grant recipient. The continued success of our K-9 unit and other regional K-9 teams that train with our K-9 unit will be strongly supported by this generous gift." -- Patrol Officer Keith Hibbard, Miami University Police Department.
"The grant that was awarded to the Miami University Police Department K-9 unit will allow for continued effective joint training, leading to seamless operations between K-9 teams. This forward thinking allows for a greater preparation in real world instances when we’re needed." -- Deputy U.S. Marshal Aaron Fisher, Department of Justice.
*Thank you to Ritter E. Hoy for the photos!Dec 11, 2014
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"Thank you Ben!"1344 viewsMy name is Jay Rusch and I am the General Manager at Woodside Plantation Country Club in Aiken, SC.
Earlier this evening, I was reading an article about Ben Roethlisberger and it pertained to Aiken, SC.
I was a little surprised and excited especially after I finished the article. I am a HUGE Steeler fan (born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA) and I currently live in Aiken, SC, I thought to myself, this is awesome!
A close friend of mine, Clark Smith is a K-9 Narcotics Officer for Aiken Department of Public Safety and his K-9 partner, Fox (Belgium Malinois – photo attached) are an amazing team and asset to our community.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU to Ben Roethlisberger for the grant to ADPS. – Best regards, Jay Rusch, PGA.
Oct 14, 2014
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June, 2014 - "Thank you Ben"1295 viewsDarin Hogan, a K9 officer in Roanoke County, VA asked us to share his email to Ben:
K9 Cash is a 2-year old Belgian Malinois. He is trained in drug detection and patrol work. Patrol entails suspect apprehension, tracking, and agression control. We work for the Roanoke County Police Department in Virginia.
Cash and I have been on the road for almost a year now and we love it. Cash has quite the knack for finding drugs.
Cash and I are both huge Steelers fans. I make it to at least one game a year (Cash stays home and watches on TV). Things aren’t looking good for me making a game this year but hopefully I can.
Just wanted to say, that although I’ve always been a Steelers fan – I’m even more proud to be one and a fan of Ben’s because of his foundation and his love and support for Police K9′s across the country!Jun 09, 2014
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June 9, 2014: Washington’s new police dog begins patrols 1364 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#.U5YyWfldVGgJun 09, 2014
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April 3, 2014: Remember Rocco, Welcome Beny!1156 viewsFrom Margaret Harding, at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Beny_OfficerLerzaLife without Pittsburgh police K9 Rocco has been hard, his former handler said Tuesday.
“It’s been a long three months, but I’m better,†Officer Phil Lerza said. “I just want to thank everybody for the support.â€
Lerza said he has begun training with Beny, a 13-month-old mix between a German shepherd and Belgian Malinois that the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation bought for him.
“We just started, but it looks good so far,†Lerza said.
Lerza attended a check presentation ceremony Tuesday at the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union in Elliott. The Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge No. 1 and the credit union received more than $23,000 in donations that came in after Rocco, an 8-year-old German shepherd, died of injuries from a stabbing attack in January.
“It’s amazing, actually,†Lerza said of the donations.
The money will go into a Pittsburgh Foundation fund to benefit the city police K9 unit.Apr 04, 2014
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March 26, 2014: Santo1196 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.Apr 04, 2014
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April 3, 2014 - Ecko1875 viewsCelina Pompeani @CelinaPompeani
The martins ferry PD got a $9500 grant from @_BigBen7 foundation to support their K-9 unit and adorable Ecko!!
From Kayla Van Dyne, at the Times Leader:
EckoMARTINS FERRY – The city’s police department recently received three grants that will go toward the betterment of the department and the service it provides to the city.
A check was presented to Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland at a press conference that was held Wednesday.
The largest grant was $9,500 from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation through the Giving Back Fund. The money from this grant will go toward general expenses and veterinarian care of Martins Ferry K-9, Ecko.
“I want to extend a huge thank you to the Jefferson County Humane Society and the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for this grant. This money will go toward insurance for Ecko, which is an important thing in case something would happen to him,†said K-9 unit handler Chad Kuhn. “This was a blessing, and I did not expect it. We were doing OK without it, but now we are going to do even better.â€
Ecko is a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and is a dual purpose K-9, which means he is trained in narcotics, suspect apprehension and tracking.
Apr 04, 2014
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March 27, 2014: Edinboro community thanks Ben via Twitter!1093 viewsOn February 13, 2014, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation awarded a grant to the Edinboro Borough (PA) Police Department…
and on March 27, 2014, a local Edinboro business spotted the foundation’s logo on a bumper sticker proudly displayed on an Edinboro police cruiser.
Folks at the Edinboro Hotel, a turn of the century landmark, took the time to tweet a great photo as well as their thanks to Ben:
@EdinboroHotel
@_BigBen7 Edinboro Police new K9 vehicle looking good w/ your logo on it. The community thanks you for your grant!
Apr 04, 2014
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Remembering Rocco 1069 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
Apr 04, 2014
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November 15, 2013 - Making another wish come true986 views“When Ben came over and met her, it was the most awesome thing I ever saw.†– Michelle Converse
From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
When Steelers practice ended and Ben Roethlisberger walked over to 15-year old Jessica Converse, you could just feel the excitement.
Because for Converse, the wish she made almost a year ago, was coming true. And her smile was as bright as can be.
Converse is visually and hearing impaired, considered legally blind and deaf, and also suffers from an enlarged heart, high blood pressure and is diabetic.
She was the Steelers guest at practice through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, meeting Roethlisberger and his teammates.
“I am just so glad she was able to get her wish with all of the different problems she has,†said her mother, Michelle Converse. “She has been waiting for this and it was so overwhelming and exciting for all of us. When Ben came over and met her, it was the most awesome thing I ever saw. I got overwhelmed when they all came up around her.â€Nov 23, 2013
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