Hoping everyone had a Happy Easter & a blessed day! — Ben, Ashley, Benjamin Jr. & Baylee

…in New Jersey!

“My department received a grant from your foundation during the last NFL season to purchase a new K9 for our department. I was chosen to be assigned to the K-9 unit and be the dog’s handler. Let me start off by saying that I am extremely grateful and can not describe in words how thankful I am that our department was chosen for this grant.

K9 ‘Ajax’ and I will be completing our first training school (Narcotics Scent Detection) in approximately two weeks. Then in September we will be starting “Patrol School” together. K9 has always been a goal and a dream of mine and because of your foundation I was able to achieve it. Once again, thank you very much for your generosity and for choosing our department.” — Officer John G. Reuter, Fort Lee (NJ) Police Department, in an email to the website on March 27, 2014.

Today, from Noah Cohen, NJ.com – Bergen edition:

A police dog funded through the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation hit the streets after graduating from an 11-week program teaching the German Shepherd to sniff out drugs, officials announced this week.

Police Officer John Reuter’s K-9 partner Ajax became the department’s seventh dog since its K-9 squad was formed in 1990, Chief Keith Bendul said.

The borough’s two K-9 teams will work varying shifts, allowing up to 16 hours of service a day, the chief added. The dogs will be available seven days a week.

The dog teams are a boon to public safety, responding to crimes in progress and missing persons calls, according to Bendul.

The department’s newest K-9 team was made possible through a $6,500 grant from Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, the chief said. Seized assets helped pay for the K-9 patrol car and gear, with no cost to taxpayers.


You can read more here.

You can read more about Ben’s foundation here.


Photo: Members of the Fort Lee Police Department and Borough Council don Steelers caps in honor of Ajax’s graduation from his first training school.


*Again, thank you to the Fort Lee Police Department and Officer Reuter for keeping us up-to-date on K9 Ajax!

Carlee Roethlisberger shared one of her favorites with us from 1991:



She and her big brother were all smiles after discovering what the Easter Bunny had left for them that April morning – a little yellow bunny and candy for her, Chicago Bulls shorts and an official Michael Jordan basketball for 9-year old Ben (how did that fit in his basket?)!

And it won’t be long before Baylee and her big brother, Benjamin Jr. are posing with their Easter basket treasures!


*Thank you Carlee!


You can see more family photos here.

…which means registration for Ben’s Football Camp is heating up!!

Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner! You still have time to sign your child up to join Ben for some football fun and instruction at his annual football camp, sponsored by ProCamps Worldwide! But spots are filling up fast!

“I went to Ben’s camp the past three years and both times it was a phenomenal experience! He was so involved and you could tell that he loved every minute of the camp (he even threw a pass to every camper). I wasn’t too interested in the football learning aspect (because I don’t play football) but that part was greatly detailed as well! I learned a lot! I also was fortunate enough to have some of Ben’s teammates coach my groups as well! Overall it was a great experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. Those four days were some of the best days of my life!” – Maddie Mulinaro, the 2012 Day 1 ‘Camper of the Day’ (see photo below), and now a Camp volunteer.

The Camp is open to boys and girls, ages 7-14.

Ben will be joined by a selection of the top prep and college coaches from the area.

Each day, the campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of football. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction.

Ben will give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

And you never know which of #7’s teammates will show up to help out! Kids that attend Ben’s Camp have had the opportunity to meet and get personal instruction from Brett Keisel, Charlie Batch, as well as the man himself, Coach Tomlin!


You might even get an appearance by Benjamin Jr and his little sister, Baylee this year!


Dates: June 16th & 17th, 2014

Times: 09:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Place: Seneca Valley High School, Harmony, PA

Cost: $199. Use the code BigBen7 for $20 off the registration fee.


*If you use the code BigBen7 when you register, you’ll receive a $20 discount off the registration fee, courtesy of ProCamps!

“I took my two […]

This one was such a big hit that not only has it made an unexpected return, but we’ve also made it into our version of the Friday Happy Dance!

From his original post on February 21st, we bring you the “crazy hair” baby dance to start your weekend off on the right foot:

“It was my first time watching the Grammys and IT WAS FUN!!! I LOVED all the music, and I think I’m totally rockin’ the crazy hair look too (it was after bath time)!” — Jr.



Hoping all in Steeler Nation have a great weekend!

to support a great cause?

Then purchase your tickets NOW for the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser on June 22nd, at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale, PA.

Proceeds from the event will benefit K-9 Police and Fire Units throughout the country, and Make-A-Wish®.



Join your host (and drummer) Big Ben, his family and teammates for an evening that includes a strolling dinner, a live and silent auction, and live music to get you dancing from the group, NightSong!

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 will go fast, so purchase yours now! Don’t miss out!


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




How does 18 holes of golf sound for the next day?

You can join Ben on the course at the beautiful Treesdale Golf and Country Club in Gibsonia, PA on June 23rd for the Third Annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Invitational!

As with the event at Jergels on Sunday night, Monday’s tournament will benefit both Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.



The tournament was a huge success last year raising over 100,000 for both of Ben’s Foundation causes: the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia as well as K-9 Police and Fire Units across the country.

118 golfers, including teammate and friend Brett Keisel, Mr. Art Rooney II, Steelers Great Franco Harris, Penguins Great Mario Lemieux, and former Steeler and current ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge, joined Ben for a full day of golf, games, food and a raffle.

Did we say food?

Yes! Golfers enjoyed both a lunch buffet served on the patio before heading out on the course, and a delicious dinner in the clubhouse after the tournament featuring several buffet stations. On the course, the golfers were treated to made-to-order Primanti Bros sandwiches from a specially prepared golf dining cart!

Space is limited for the tournament, so make your golfing plans NOW!


You can sign up for the tournament, or learn more about it here.

You can see an album full of photos from last year’s Invitational here.


If you unable […]