Today, Ben announced the tenth, eleventh & twelfth grants of the 2015-16 season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

Nero_wsIt will be a very Happy New Year for the Aurora Police Department, Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department and the Richmond Heights Police Department, all in the Cleveland area where the Steelers will play the Browns on Sunday, January 3rd.

Aurora PD has just recently re-established their K-9 unit with the addition of K-9 Nero (in the photo) and plans to use the funds to finish Nero’s training and outfit him with a bulletproof vest.

“The Aurora Police Department is extremely grateful to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for their generous contribution toward the purchasing of K-9 Nero who will make a great addition to our department. On behalf of all of law enforcement, we are grateful to have organizations such as the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation that provide continued support to law-enforcement entities across the country.” — Aurora Chief of Police Brian Byard.


Richmond Heights PD is also hoping to re-establish their K-9 unit and will continue fundraising efforts.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department will utilize the grant to update the “hot-n-pop” system in one of their K-9 vehicles. The system allows for remote door operation and heat alerts, ensuring the safety of the K-9 when left in the vehicle.

During the 2015-16 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 for each playoff game in which the Steelers compete. Ben invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.

This marks the ninth season that the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units. Ben’s mission 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. Roethlisberger and the Foundation also support Make-A-Wish.

The Foundation distributed more than $130,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2014-15 NFL season and has distributed in excess of $1.3 million since 2007.

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.”

Fans 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 Ben’s foundation or The Giving Back Fund, please contact Jessica Duffaut or visit www.givingback.org.