Corey & Brittany Casper had a “surprise guest” appear at their wedding reception at Treesdale Country Club in May, and wanted to share their story:



“On our wedding day, May 17, 2013, we got more than any Pittsburgh fan could ever want. Our day was amazing and as we were enjoying ourselves at our wedding reception, we saw someone that looked familiar just outside the door! We went out in the hallway and saw the one and only Big Ben – coming back in from a round of golf with friends (see this week’s Photo of the Week)! We were so excited! He was very personable, taking time out of his night to say “hello” and to congratulate us on our marriage, and to pose for pictures with us! We were so excited to be able to share our big day with our favorite player on the Pittsburgh Steelers! We will forever remember this day thanks to Ben!! Thank you again for the amazing memory!!” — Corey & Brittany Casper


*Thank you and congratulations to Corey & Brittany!

Steve & Michelle Bishop traveled from upstate New York earlier this week so that their eight-year old son, Bryce, could attend Ben’s football camp in Harmony, PA.

Steve asked that we share his thoughts on yet another “unforgettable moment” in his son’s life, shared with his favorite football player:


It’s amazing to me how these memories of Ben just keep being made for Bryce to be put in his memory box.

This all started with the game that Bryce and I went to (a home against the Ravens) and our desire to have a simple game photo signed in Chantilly, VA a little over a year ago. But Ben did more than that…he interacted with Bryce on a kids’ level at that show, while making him a bigger fan in the process.

Next up….winning that game used cleat for his birthday. That was the talk for months! With all of this, I became a bigger fan myself, eagerly anticipating another opportunity to see Ben in person and have inscriptions added to his cleat and hopefully, a photo along with it. So we were thrilled when his King of Prussia event was announced. So that wish came true…..and thinking there was nowhere to go from there, we won the lottery: LUNCH WITH BIG BEN ROETHLISBERGER.

I kept this part a surprise from Bryce until the end of camp. I waited for the announcement to be made from ProCamps to tell him. When Bryce heard his name called, he turned around with the most puzzled, yet excited look on his face, as if hoping not to be let down by what he thought he just heard. When I told him he heard right, he got quiet, and in a very emotional way said the most heartfelt “Thanks Dad”. I know it meant so much to him to be hanging out with Ben at lunch, like he was just another guy……he is, but he isn’t.

Ben interacted the entire time with the kids. He answered a question from each one after lunch. Bryce asked if he was happy not to be facing Ray Lewis anymore, lol, which made Ben laugh. Then it was time for our picture to be taken. Ben signed […]

From Akasha Brandt & Larissa Dudkiewicz, Editor, Robinson-Moon Patch:

The two-day camp, organized by ProCamps Worldwide and sponsored by Giant Eagle and Fifth Third Bank, was the sixth annual Ben Roethlisberger football camp and the third hosted at Seneca Valley High School.

The whistles of 50 local football coaches blared above the noise of the excited children, whose ages ranged from 7-14. The Raiders’ Stadium was chaotic as the campers, outfitted in their matching white t-shirts, ran between stations to learn different football skills.

Roethlisberger roamed from group to group coaching them one-on-one, hopping on his blue Schwinn bicycle to ride between the two fields.

The players, at one point, sat mesmerized as Steelers head Coach Mike Tomlin gave them a “life lessons” pep talk.

But it wasn’t all work and no play — some campers danced to a DJ’s music, rolled around on the turf or made goofy faces for the news cameras.

Roethlisberger did stop to have some fun of his own.

He pranked campers by spraying them with a water bottle and hiding behind a group of coaches. When the campers caught sight of the quarterback they shouted, “Ben!” and dissolved into giggles.


You can read more here.



And a few more reflections on the camp from parents & grandparents:

“I would like to express my thanks to Ben for hosting his camp the last 2 days! He made a dream come true for my son (and myself). I would also like to extend a very special thanks to Brenda (Ben’s mom). My son, who’s only 7, was very nervous and too scared to go on the field. Brenda was walking by and noticed us and stopped. She talked to him and then noticed her shoes were the same color as his and they compared shoes. This helped very much to eased his nerves. After that, he had the courage to go out on the field and had a wonderful time both days! Again – thank you Brenda!” — John Fasick


“We brought our grandchildren to Ben’s youth camp for their second year. They had a great time this year,too. Our granddaughter age 13 and our grandson age 8 really enjoy interacting with the other campers and Ben. What […]

“My boys had a great time today at camp! My youngest getting to ask Ben a question and my oldest son Andrew catching a 50 yard bomb over the outside shoulder made for lifelong memories. I wish I was there to see it in person, but through the wonders of YouTube, I was able to watch it from Afghanistan. I hope Paul Chryst and Todd Haley were watching!

Thank you to Ben, Ben’s family, and all those who work so hard to put on the camp. You made two, no 500+, kid’s day! My wife and I are touched, almost to tears, by the gesture. Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go…and Go Big Ben!” — CDR Mark Ziegler, SC,USN; to the website’s Facebook page this afternoon.

From CBS Pittsburgh this evening:

Passes come fast and furious, and so do catches, at Ben Roethlisberger’s Football Camp. Among the campers are Andrew Ziegler and his brother, Steven, courtesy of their father, Navy Commander Mark Ziegler.

“My husband is currently stationed in Afghanistan,” says his wife, Dena. “And he gave the kids the gift of Ben’s camp for something to look forward to while he was away. And today is Steven’s 12th birthday.”


Dena Ziegler shared her sons’ stories on the Steeler quarterback’s website.

“So I ended up reading that,” Roethlisberger says. “So I called them out today, and today happens to be his brother’s birthday as well. So we sent them both deep, and I had his mom come down so she good get good footage and send it to their dad in Afghanistan. So it all worked out really great.”

Andrew sprinted down the sideline, as Mom shoots the video. Other campers cheer as he makes the catch.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” the boy says afterward. “He’s my hero. I didn’t dream of it happening.”

Then it’s his younger brother’s turn. A big stretch, and Steven comes down with the ball.

“He threw a perfect pass, and it was my job as a receiver to catch a perfect pass,” Steven says. Speaking of his dad, he adds, “I’m really excited for him to see it, because he’s my dad and he’s serving in Afghanistan , and I just want him to see the moments we’ve had.”

Dena Ziegler sums it up: “It’s just […]