Brett Keisel’s 6th Annual event was a big success in raising funds for Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for their cancer programs. Guest barbers included Ben, James Harrison, Cam Heyward, Sean Suisham, and former Pirates infielder Neil Walker.

“Ben Roethlisberger, looking like he could use his own beard shearing, takes the last lock from Keez.” — Randy Baumann via Instagram.

*Actually, it looks like “Keez” is trying to escape from Ben the Barber!




Children’s Hospital ‏@ChildrensPgh
@_BigBen7 shearing @bkeisel99 beard! #ShearDaBeard

“Big Ben gets his turn to ‪#ShearDaBeard ‬!” Photo: IATW Foundation – Thank you to Trish!


So, how well did the guest barbers do in the shaving of #99? Stop by his website to see for yourself!

Hey Steeler Nation! You can combine K9’s with Valentines with the help of Sarris Candies!

“We’re so grateful for Sarris Candies’ generous support. We’re excited to involve a local favorite like Sarris Candies in helping to support our police and fire departments!” – Ben.

Each NFL season, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation distributes grants to police and fire department K-9 units in the city, and surrounding community, of each regular season away game for the Steelers.

The foundation also distributes several grants each year to K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area.

K-9 units are often woefully underfunded and depend on public donations to continue their important work protecting the community and their human partners.

Sarris Candies wants to help you with your Valentines Day gift-giving and at the same time, you can help Ben’s foundation support our public service heroes!

Just use the group code of 77-7777 on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.Sarriscandiesfundraising.com) to purchase any of Sarris’ expansive candy fundraising catalog products, like the Heart Deluxe Assortment, Cordial Strawberries, yummy Valentines Day Oreos or go sporty with the Pittsburgh Black and Gold Assortment….and of course, Smooches (pictured)!!

Sarris will then donate 25% of the purchase price to Ben’s foundation.

“Giving back to the community in which we live has long been a core belief here at Sarris Candies and we’re excited to have the opportunity to have a little influence and encourage people to support and donate to such a worthy cause in our community.” — Bill Sarris, President of Sarris Candies.

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.


For more info or to make a donation to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation please contact Jessica Duffaut at The Giving Back Fund.


*Photos: Sarris Candies and the Sacramento Police Department.

A Bellevue police dog, Ozzy, gets a custom-fitted bulletproof vest courtesy of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.

From Lynn Thompson at the Seattle Times:

Last week, when two mail-theft suspects ditched a stolen car and ran from police, one of Bellevue’s newest officers was called to track them down.

In nine months on the job, K-9 officer Ozzy has apprehended 11 suspects.

The 95-pound German shepherd was at Bellevue City Hall on Thursday, showing off his new Kevlar, bullet-resistant vest, before an admiring crowd of city employees and media.


Ozzy was the only one of three Bellevue police dogs without a protective vest. Lt. Andrew Popochock, who supervises the K-9 unit for the Bellevue Police Department, said that the dogs often are sent into high-risk situations with suspects armed with knives or guns. They also train with Bellevue’s SWAT team.

“Just like we want protection for our officers, dogs need protection as well,” he said. Ozzy’s vest was constructed of the same materials as police protective vests and was custom-fit to the dog.

Straps and buckles keep the vest secure, but still allow for movement. Ozzy had to reach 2 years old before it could be certain he wouldn’t outgrow the vest.

Popochock said police dogs and their handlers receive more than 400 hours of training, learning obedience, bite work, tracking, locating evidence and how to tell which scent is fresh at a crime scene.

The $2,400 vest was purchased with a grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and the Bellevue Police Foundation. Roethlisberger is well-known to Seahawks fans as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who dashed Seattle’s first Super Bowl bid in 2006.

Last November, a few days before the Seahawks-Steelers game, the foundation announced awards to the Bellevue and Renton K-9 units.

“Ben is a big dog fan,” Popochock said. ”He’s done a lot of good in communities around the country and a lot of good for police dogs.” As far as the Super Bowl loss in 2006, he said, “We’re over that.”


If you’d like to donate to Ben’s foundation or just learn more, click here.

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

This is a big week for Alan Faneca, the former Pittsburgh Steelers guard who’s a Hall of Fame finalist. ESPN.com will have a story on Faneca’s exceptional performance on and off the field later this week, but in the meantime Faneca shared his views on Ben Roethlisberger, his quarterback from 2004-07.

He’s seen an evolution with Roethlisberger, and he’s not just talking about his throwing ability.

“He definitely has taken the organization and the team and put it on his shoulders,” said Faneca, who played for 10 years with the Steelers, six times an All-Pro. “That’s come a long way from when he first got into the NFL, just as we all evolve. He’s definitely grown into that guy. It’s great to see. He’s taken the team emotionally and physically by what he does on the field.”

Not that Roethlisberger couldn’t lead before, Faneca said, but he believes Roethlisberger has “expanded” on his leadership capacity, as evidenced by him calling on Martavis Bryant to “toughen up” after the wide receiver’s slow stretch before the playoffs. Bryant responded with 267 offensive yards and a touchdown in two playoff games.

Roethlisberger has talked about his lack of maturity as a young player. The Steelers had a veteran-laden team that went 15-1 in Roethlisberger’s rookie year, followed by a Super Bowl the next season.

“As he got more years in, he just started assuming more of a leadership role,” Faneca said. “I’ll see him pull guys over during the pregame and circle them up, a ‘Let’s go, get after it’ moment. It’s just nice to see. He seems more motivational, trying to get guys centered, calling out guys. Knowing when to poke and prod is a thing you learn along the way. On top of that, just going out there and playing how he plays, pulling off the quasi-impossible on those third-and-longs to keep them in the game.”


You can read more here.

has been open for registration for a couple of weeks & already filling up!

“I wanted to send a big thanks to Big Ben and all involved for making it possible for my grandson and all the kids to have this special experience that I know they will never forget!! Such a wonderful weekend for us (his grandparents) and his sister Kylie to experience it with him too! What a fantastic memory for my grandson to have when he caught not one but 2 passes from Ben and one for a TD!! Hoping to make this an annual event! Thanks again!” — K. Siters, from the 2015 camp.

Stop by the SunnyD Ben Roethlisberger ProCamps Football Camp website today and sign your child up with our special promotional code, BigBen7.

Not only are spots filling up fast, but the Citi Private Pass Lunch with Ben is already sold out!

And you’ve got until midnight tonight to take advantage of this: one lucky camper who signs up in January & uses the BigBen7 promotional code for $20 off will be selected to have his or her tuition refunded to attend camp for free!

The Camp is open to boys and girls, grades 1 through 8, and Ben will be joined by a selection of the top prep and college coaches from the area.

Each day, campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of football.

Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction.

Group rates are available for your team, school, or group of friends! For more information, please contact Alex at aland@procamps.com.

Ben will give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond, as well as be on the field EVERYWHERE helping coaches and throwing passes. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

And you never know who will show up to help out #7!

Kids that have attended Ben’s Camp have had the opportunity to meet and get instruction from Bruce Gradkowski, David DeCastro & and Kelvin Beachum, and even Coach Tomlin, who also helped judge the races!

And Ben’s camp is always a family affair!

Ashley & Baylee, Ken & Brenda, sister Carlee, […]

From Teresa Varley’s article at Steelers.com:

Ben’s still Ben: Ben Roethlisberger will turn 34 on March 2, but Steelers’ President Art Rooney II said it isn’t time to start looking for his replacement. Roethlisberger, who signed a new five-year deal last March which will keep him with the Steelers through the 2019 season, threw for 3,938 yards in 2015, his 10th straight season throwing for at least 3,000 yards.

“I don’t think we are starting down that road of who is next after Ben,” said Rooney. “Obviously we have some work to do in terms of who are the backups. We will have some evaluation to do there. As far as I am concerned, Ben didn’t show much sign of falling off this year. So I am looking forward to at least several more years with Ben as our quarterback.”


You can read the other 2 takes here.