Today, Ben announced the opening of the 2017 grant cycle of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund. This marks the 11th grant cycle for Ben’s Foundation.

The majority of the grants distributed will help police and fire department K-9 units to purchase dogs and dog safety vests, but other types of needs are also considered.

The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2017 NFL season including the Cleveland, Chicago, Baltimore, Kansas City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Houston areas.

Ben invites police and fire departments in these eight cities to submit proposals detailing their needs. In addition, the Foundation will continue to make grants to several police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area following Super Bowl LII. If the Steelers make the post-season, a grant will also be distributed to a non-NFL market city.

The mission of the Ben Roethlisberger 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. Roethlisberger and the Foundation also strive to 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.

“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.” — Ben.

Applications and supporting documents must be mailed and postmarked by August 15. Click HERE for all the details on how to apply!

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 or visit www.givingback.org.

From Mike Prisuta at Steelers.com this afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger is back with the Steelers and fully committed to playing the 2017 season.

Beyond that he’s offering no guarantees.

“I never commit to anybody more than one year,” Roethlisberger said today at the conclusion of OTA No. 1 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I think that’s all we should always commit to with this sport. Because if we look past this year, then we’re cheating ourselves and we’re cheating other people. We need to give this year everything that we can, everything that we have because ultimately that’s what we have, right here and right now.

“I’m here on Day One. You see me out there taking every rep I’m supposed to take and then some. I actually took some of the rookies’ (reps) today. I’m 110-percent committed.

“I’m happy to be back here. I’m happy to be back with the team. I love these guys. I love this city. I love being out here. Football is a passion of mine, it’s what I do and what I love to do.”

Among the challenges looming for Roethlisberger’s 14th season with the Steelers is sorting out the tight end position in the wake of the release of Ladarius Green.

“It’ll be tough, specially being excited about what he could bring and some of the flashes we got to see last year,” Roethlisberger said. “It’ll be tough because we were just starting to get on the same page, but we have a lot of faith in Jesse (James), obviously, what he can do, and ‘X’ (Xavier Grimble) and ‘D.J.’ (David Johnson), and all those guys.”

There’s also a crowd at wide receiver thanks to the conditional reinstatement from suspension of Martavis Bryant and the addition of second-round pick JuJu Smith-Schuster.

“I’m excited,” Roethlisberger said. “We have a lot of guys. It’s fun to be able to rotate through guys. I want to throw to each one to kind of see what they can do and start developing a chemistry.

“I also have to realize my arm probably won’t last that long.”


You can read more here.

Merril Hoge @MerrilHoge
A massive thanks to @_BigBen7 #benrothlisberger @steelers for giving their time to help support grieving kids. #highmarkcaringplace #findaway #golf