…who are just as happy as he is to pose with his autographed Nike from Big Ben!


We shared the story of Mike Artz on May 14th, thanks to his long-time friend Kent:

“I wanted to do something special for a personal friend of mine – we live in Wisconsin, and my friend, Mike Arntz is a lifelong Steeler fan – pretty tough to do in the land of Cheeseheads (see his pontoon boat). Below is the story describing what he did, donating 70% of his liver for his ailing nephew. In my eyes, Mike is a hero.” – Dr. Kent Vandehaar, Chippewa Falls, WI

Mike donated that 70 percent of his liver to his 22-year-old nephew Tyler, who has struggled with a rare liver disease for much of his life.

“I was amazed that he was willing to do this for me,” Tyler said.

And Mike?

“I really never had any hesitation about the whole thing,” he said, recalling that he knew it was the right thing to do and imagined the regret he would have felt if he found out later he was a match and anything happened to Tyler while awaiting a deceased donor liver.

His friend Kent said that Mike is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and, “a true living hero in my eyes.”

We had to agree with Kent. Mike makes Steeler Nation proud!

So what do you send to a BIG Big Ben fan like Mike, who finds himself surrounded by Packers fans, all of whom just want to do something nice for their friend?



Left to right: Dale Slaby, Buck Harper, Kent Vandehaar, Mike Arntz, Dan Hunt, and Rich Meredith.

“We gave Mike his shoe – we set it up as a visit from some of his racquetball buddies – we all showed up in our Packer stuff and cruised around the lake in his Steelers pontoon. I’m the one in the white hat. He was in awe at the present! Thanks to Ben for bringing awareness to organ donation!” — Kent

“Ben, I just want to thank you so very much for all you have done! My friend Kent Vandehaar contacted you and let you know about my being a HUGE Steelers & Ben fan and you posted pictures of me on my […]

I got thrown into my first start because Tommy (Maddox) was injured. It was a whirlwind of events and I was just trying not to screw up. I just didn’t want to let my teammates down. — Ben, on his own pro debut.

Ben was a call-in guest on the The Fan’s Cook & Poni Show after practice.

Some of the topics he covered in a short time – working with the Steelers rookies and Lance Moore; the buzz surrounding the major league debut of Pirates Outfielder Gregory Polanco; the emergency appendectomy surgery for Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, and his own in 2006; as well as his upcoming Foundation event, tournament, and his Kids Camp:


You can listen to his interview here.

I’d like to introduce the City of Washington Police Department newest employee Patrolman Golem and his handler Officer Karlowsky — Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis

Thanks Washington & @_BigBen7 for contributions to reestablishing City of Washington K9 Police Unit — Mayor Brenda Davis via Twitter @Mayor_Davis

“The city has its first police dog since the department disbanded its K9 unit in 1997”

From Mike Jones, Washington Observer-Reporter:

Ever since he was young, Matthew Karlowsky wanted to be a police officer, his father said. Then, when he was hired as a Washington patrolman eight years ago, he set his sights on one day becoming a police dog’s handler.

His vision came to fruition Thursday night when the veteran officer and the city’s new police dog, Golem, were formally introduced during a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.

Golem, a 10-month-old German shepherd, could barely control his excitement for the ceremony, barking at times and searching for his ball in the cargo pocket of Karlowsky’s pants.

The dog was born in the Czech Republic and trained with Karlowsky for six weeks at Shallow Creek Kennels in Mercer County. Karlowsky gives Golem commands in Czech as they continue to train to hone the dog’s drug-detection and patrol skills.

Karlowsky served in the U.S. Army during the Iraq war and it was during that 14-month deployment that he wanted to work with dogs after watching military K9 handlers, his father, Rick, said.

“This boy has always wanted to be a police officer, and ever since then, he wanted to be a K9 handler,” Rick Karlowsky said.

The community raised about $47,000 the past nine months to restart the department’s K9 unit, including a $10,000 grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Mayor Brenda Davis said the community support and local business donations were instrumental in bringing back the unit, and city officials hope to expand it to two dogs by the end of the year.

“If it weren’t for the donations from the community, we wouldn’t be able to have this special swearing-in ceremony,” Davis said. “He’s ready to be a police officer.”


You can read more here.

You can learn more about Ben’s foundation here.



“Thank you Ben!”

Darin Hogan, a K9 officer in Roanoke County, VA asked us to share his email to Ben:

The Steelers have recently released their off-season schedule and they are holding a mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, June 17th. This scheduling conflict prevents Ben from attending Day Two of his ProCamp.

In the six years of Ben’s camp, he has never missed a minute. Because Ben does not want to miss any of the action in year seven, he will adjust his camp to fit into one day.

Therefore, all camp activities will take place on Monday June 16th so that Ben can take part in the entire camp. Ben looks forward to sharing a good old ‘two-a-day’ with his Pittsburgh fans!

The camp will run from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM on Monday June 16th, and campers will be served lunch from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

We look forward to another great camp!

…at the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser to benefit K-9 Police and Fire Units throughout the country, and Make-A-Wish®.

“Great charity, great food & a fun evening with the Roethlisberger family! We look forward to it!” — Dr. Ronald Cypher, pictured below with his wife Deb, daughter & son-in-law, Heather and Jeremy Peterson at Ben’s event last year.

There will be live music, both a live and silent auction, a photo booth, a strolling dinner…and even a donut cart!

It’s going to be a great time!

Don’t miss out! Purchase your tickets now!

Date: Sunday, June 22nd, 2014

Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Place: Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, PA


Ticket price: $200/per person

Attire: Casual and Comfortable

*Must be 21 years of age or older to attend!


Tickets are going fast so get ’em while you still can.


You can see more fun photos from last year’s event here.



How about Monday?


Take the day off and meet Ben on the golf course at the beautiful Treesdale Golf & Country Club in Gibsonia, PA on June 23rd for the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Invitational!

“Just getting in some practice for Big Ben’s golf tournament at the end of this month. Honored at the friendship Ben and I have established, and looking forward to being a part of this great day.” — Brian Cooper, Steelers fan and Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break Greenbriar’ & ‘NFL’ series competitor, pictured below.

You’ll start with pre-tournament games from the creative mind of Justin Aquilante at ProServ Events! Last year’s games included the Quarterback Challenge, the Football Drive, the Hat Trick, a Three Point Shootout, Roulette Golf, Blackjack, a $5,000 Putt Challenge, and a $1 million dollar Shootout (165 yard shot).

And it doesn’t stop there!

As you make your way around the course, you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at other competitions like Poker & Roulette Golf, a Men’s and Women’s Long Drive, the Straight Drive, and a TPC Sawgrass “Island Green” hole.

You’ll enjoy both a lunch buffet and dinner in the clubhouse after the tournament.

Competitions wouldn’t be complete without prizes! At the end of the day, winners are awarded gifts as well as autographed items from Ben.

Don’t miss this!


You […]