Today, Ben announced the first grant awards of the 2017 season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The Foundation will be distributing grants to the Lorain Police Department and the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, both just outside of Cleveland where the Steelers will play the Browns this Sunday, September 10th.

The Lorain Police Department will use the grant funds to update their K-9 training equipment, while the Medina County Sheriff’s Office will use their grant to purchase safety equipment for their K-9s.

“The Lorain Police Department would like to thank the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for their generous donation, which will help ensure our K-9 program continues to serve our community as well as surrounding communities for years to come.” — Police Chief Cel Rivera, Lorain Police Department.



During the 2017 NFL season, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers. The Foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider a grant to a non-NFL market city in the United States if the Steelers advance to the playoffs. Ben invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.

This marks the 11th season that Ben’s foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units.

The mission of his foundation is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States, with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben and his foundation also support Make-A-Wish.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation distributed more than $150,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2016 NFL season, including $76,000 in the Pittsburgh community. The Foundation has distributed in excess of $1.65 million since 2007.

MedinaSO

“We are fortunate to be one of this year’s grant recipients from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Our K-9 program has become an integral part of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office. If not for the generous citizens of Medina County and others such as the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, our K-9 program would not be possible or have the success that it has achieved.” — Sheriff Tom Miller, Medina County Sheriff’s Office.


“Our department is grateful for the support from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and The Giving Back Fund in helping us to better care for our K-9’s. Thank you to the Giving Back Fund for overseeing this grant process and to Mr. Roethlisberger for his support of Law Enforcement K-9 Units. — Sgt. Bev Fraser, Medina County Sheriff’s Office.



Blue Mountain Canine Services is a proud supporter of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and provides a personalized leather collar etched with an American flag for each new dog awarded by the Foundation.


Fans:

You can support future K-9 grants by purchasing candy on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.SarrisCandiesFundraising.com), using a special purchase code (77-7777). Sarris will donate 25 percent of the purchase price to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.


For more information about the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation or The Giving Back Fund, please contact Jessica Duffaut at www.givingback.org.


Photo: K-9 Hendrix & his partner Deputy Jarret Furey & K-9 Rocky & his partner Deputy Dave King from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.