…at the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser!
(Photo credit: WHIRL Magazine)
On behalf of The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, I am extremely grateful to our sponsors, guests, friends and the Pittsburgh Steelers for their generous support. I was honored to have everyone there to support two worthy causes: Police and Fire K-9 Units and Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia. I hope those that attended enjoyed the evening as much as I did. — Ben
Jergels was the place to be on Sunday evening, June 22nd as Ben’s family, friends, fans and sponsors came out to support The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation in style – with great food, music and wonderful live & silent auction items – all of which found new homes by the end of the evening.
(Photo credit: WHIRL Magazine)
During the 2013-14 grant cycle, Ben’s foundation distributed $157,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country, including $87,000 to police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh community. Ben’s foundation recently purchased a new K-9 for Officer Lerza, who lost his partner, Rocco, after the K-9 was stabbed while performing his duties for the Pittsburgh Police Department.
(Photo credit: Tommy Iannarelli)
Ben and his Master of Ceremonies, DVE Morning Show host Randy Baumann took the stage for the Live Auction.
Some of the items up for bid during the Live Auction:
Pittsburgh Steelers Game Package for four including four field passes & transportation to and from the game.
The Ultimate Nemacolin Experience – luxury accomodations for a three-night stay with a VIP welcome amenity, breakfast for two, a round of golf for two on both The Links and Mystic Rock, a couples massage, dinner for two at Aqueous and Lautrec, and 100 sporting clays for two at the Shooting Academy.
A Kohler Experience – two-night stay at the American Club Resort Hotel with a round of golf for two on both the Blackwater River Course and Whistling Straits. The American Club is the only Forbes Five-Star resort hotel in Wisconsin and the Midwest’s only AAA Five-Diamond resort hotel.
(Photo credit: WHIRL Magazine)
Strong family support: Ken, Brenda, Ben, Ashley and Carlee Roethlisberger, as well as Ashley’s parents, Dave & Jeannie Harlan (not pictured).
And what caused the biggest bidding war of the evening:
Dinner in your home with Ben and his personal chef!
Yes, one bidder will not only have Ben & Ashley as dinner guests in his home, but Ben will bring along his personal chef with a game plan that includes a 3-course gourmet meal. Did we mention this bidder will also be inviting nine of his closest friends to dine as well?
The high bid on this one? $16,000!
The Silent Auction items were amazing as well, from autographed memorabilia from Ben, teammates Troy Polamalu and Antonio Brown, hockey great Mario Lemieux, as well as other Pittsburgh sports stars like Sidney Crosby, Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker. Delicious items on the auction table from Dietsch Brother’s Chocolates of Findlay, dinner for four from the Common Plea, and a 5-course private wine dinner for eight at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto.
Proceeds from the event and both auctions benefit police and fire K-9 Units and Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia through The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.
Since 2007, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has made 135 grants totaling more than $1.2 million to 129 police and fire departments and 5 community youth organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Make-A-Wish. The 129 canine grants have funded the purchase of more than 67 dogs, the training of more than 29 dogs and 50 handlers, safety equipment such as vests, for more than 54 dogs, and training equipment for more than 33 dogs as well as food, veterinarian services, and housing for many more.
You can learn more about Ben’s foundation here.
You can see more photos from the evening here.
*A special thank you to photographer Ben Petchel and to Andrea Bosco of WHIRL Magazine for sharing their photos with us!
Be sure to pick up a copy of WHIRL Magazine‘s August issue for more photos from the event!
We’d also like to thank our Presenting sponsor, Apollo Jets; Premier sponsors: Sprint, Kyocera and Auto Palace Porsche; Diamond sponsors: PNC and King Street Grille; Platinum sponsor: Console Energy Center; Gold sponsors: RGT, Chrislynn Energy and the Pittsburgh Steelers; Silver sponsors: BCHH, Rep 1 Sports, Prestige Wealth Strategies, ABB, Confluence Advisors, Land Services USA, CSA, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mr. Luke Ravenstahl, UPMC Health Plan, HealthSouth of Sewickley, and Merril Hoge at Find A Way; Bronze sponsor: Broadway Collision; Steel sponsors: Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, A&L Motors, Eat’n Park and Jim Krenn; and our in-kind donors: The Prop Shop, Jergels, Lionworks Printing & Graphics, 93.7 The Fan, Bella Christie & Lil’ Z’s, and Hampton Inn.
We have some great photos from The Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Invitational to share as well, so come on back!
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