Today, Ben announced the sixth grant of the 2011 season from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The foundation will be distributing a grant to the Kansas City Police Department in Kansas City, Missouri where the Steelers will play the Chiefs this Sunday, November 27th.

The department will purchase a dual-purpose canine so that a 10-year-old veteran canine can retire. The new canine’s skill will be put to work on the national stage during the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and at presidential candidate events in the upcoming year.

Kansas City Police Commander Kevin O’Sullivan said, “The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is thrilled to be receiving this award from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. The money will be used to purchase a dual-purpose canine for both patrol work and bomb detection. We have a great need for a young energetic pup to take the place of a very experienced dog that will be retired this year.”

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is distributing grants to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers in the 2011 season. Last summer, Ben invited police and fire departments in the local areas of those nine cities to submit proposals detailing their needs.

In commenting on why the mission of the foundation is so important to him, Ben said, “We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.”


For more information:

Check out Ben’s Foundation page here and the Giving Back Fund’s website here.