Two Ohio fire departments happy about grants
The grant will benefit Findlay’s new $1 million STRICT Center (Simulated Tactical Response and Incident Command Training).
Construction of the center, a training complex for Findlay and Hancock County’s first responders, is expected to get underway this year. It will be located at Findlay Fire Station 4 on Hancock County Road 236.
“It’s exciting to add Ben’s name to the list of funding partners for our project,” said Findlay Fire Chief Josh Eberle.
Girard Firefighter Thomas Cantola and his partner Maya graduated from the State Farm Arson Dog Training Program and were certified according to the standards of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
Maya and Cantola is the 3rd arson dog team for Trumbull County trained through the State Farm program.
K9 Maya is a 2-year-old female yellow Labrador retriever, who was raised by Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL.
(WFMJ Channel 21)
Final K9 grants from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation
Today, Ben announced the final grants to be awarded from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
The Foundation is distributing 15 grants to police and fire K-9 programs around the country.
The K-9 departments receiving funding from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation include the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (KS), City of Covington Police (KY), City of Girard (OH), East Cleveland Police (OH), Findlay Fire Department (OH), Houston Fire Department (TX), Lafayette Police (IN), Mingo County Sheriff’s Office (WV), Redondo Beach Police (CA), Wahoo Police (NE) and five departments in Pennsylvania: Allegheny Valley Regional Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Manor Township Police, North Fayette Township Police and Punxsutawney Borough Police.
This announcement completes the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation’s 14th and final grant cycle.
The Foundation will distribute more than $90,000 this year. Grant funds will be utilized in a variety of canine-focused initiatives including the establishment of new K-9 units, replacement of retiring dogs, purchase of safety and training equipment, and training and certification of new and existing K-9s among other K-9 related expenses.
“It has been an absolute privilege to be able to support the critical work of K-9 officers and their handlers over the past 14 years. To witness the bond between a dog and their handler has been very rewarding. Their lifesaving & crimefighting gives ‘teamwork’ new meaning. They are truly partners! I have many fond memories of meeting first responders on the field and in our communities and I want to thank them for their dedication and sacrifice.” –Ben.
For the past 14 seasons, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has invited police and fire departments located in and around the cities and communities in which the Steelers played to submit proposals detailing their needs. The mission of the foundation focused on supporting K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States, with a particular emphasis on service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben has distributed more than $2.3 million since 2007, nearly $2 million of which has specifically benefited K-9 programs. In addition, he has hosted several events to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, his high school alma mater, and other organizations close to his heart.
Donald W. Palmer, […]
WANTED: Father & Son
Table for 5
During his interview with the media on Friday, Steelers rookie TE Pat Freiermuth said Ben reached out to him the day after the 2021 NFL Draft to congratulate him and to touch base.
“It’s pretty cool just seeing him,” Freiermuth said. “When I was young kid and watching the NFL, it’d be like, ‘Oh look, that’s Ben Roethlisberger.’ Now, my locker’s right next to him. It’s pretty cool and definitely surreal.”
And speaking of “pretty cool”, Freiermuth will dine with Big Ben tomorrow evening at his home, along with Najee Harris, Dan Moore Jr. and Kendrick Green. Bon Appetit gentlemen!
The Steelers will run their rookie mini camp through Sunday.
You can keep up with all the latest from their camp at Steelers.com.
Throwback Thursday – 2005
JuJu: I’d rather play with Big Ben
From Caio Miari at The Score:
Playing one more year with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was key for wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster when he decided to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.
Though Smith-Schuster could’ve joined Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs or Lamar Jackson on the Baltimore Ravens, the wideout felt that staying with Roethlisberger and the Steelers was the right thing to do.
“He had a huge impact,” Smith-Schuster said of Roethlisberger during an NFL Network interview. “… What he’s done for me for the past four years, I appreciate everything”
“To have one more year with him and bet on myself, I’d rather play with him than the other options I had,” he continued. “It’s nothing against those other guys – those are all great guys and they’re going to have a great career. … But you just don’t go back on your guys, and (Ben is) a guy I like to stay with.”
In March, Roethlisberger took a pay cut to return to Pittsburgh for his 18th season, while Smith-Schuster inked a team-friendly one-year contract with the Steelers worth $8 million.
The Ravens reportedly offered the pass-catcher a deal worth up to $13 million, while the Chiefs were willing to give him an $8-million contract that included $3 million in incentives. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid also used his Super Bowl LIV trophy in an attempt to lure Smith-Schuster, sending pictures of it to the wideout.
“I’m fine with the one-year deal,” Smith-Schuster added. “I’m coming back with the guys that I like to play with, I’m coming back with the coaches I have a good relationship with. They know me, I know them, and it’s going to make my job a lot easier this year.”
The 24-year-old set a career-high with nine touchdown receptions last season while catching 97 passes overall for 831 yards.
You can read more from The Score here.