You bet there is!

And we’re celebrating National Puppy Day by saying Thank You to these hard-working K9 officers (who eventually grew up to be great protectors)!


The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation awards grants to police and fire departments throughout the U.S. with a particular emphasis on support for K-9 units and service dogs.

The majority of the grants distributed will help K-9 units to purchase dogs and dog safety vests, but other types of K-9 related needs are considered. In fact, not only has Ben’s foundation been awarding grants for the purchase of the dogs themselves, but also for the purchase of equipment, training, and even veterinary bills since 2006.

Ben also strives to support Make-A-Wish and his foundation has distributed in excess of $1.2 million.


You can learn more about The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and make a donation here.

For more information on the grant process, contact Jessica Duffaut at The Giving Back Fund (www.GivingBack.org).

You can support future K-9 grants and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time by purchasing candy on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.SarrisCandiesFundraising.com), using a special purchase code (77-7777). Sarris will donate 25 percent of the purchase price to his foundation.



Photo credits: Montgomery County (MD) Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Boston Police Department, John Kozowyk, and APlaceToLoveDogs.com.

I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes! There were so many left for me on Facebook & Twitter and in emails to my dad’s website that I felt just like a princess!


My first birthday has been so much fun, especially the cake-eating part (naturally, I was a much neater eater than my brother!!) A girl could really get used to this.


I’m really excited for my birthday party this weekend, but Steeler Nation made today feel like a party too – a big one! XOXOXO — Baylee

with the spotlight on Baylee Marie Roethlisberger, born March 19, 2014.

This adorable little girl turns one…


…and boy, has her first year been fun!!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAYLEE!

Highlights from Scott Brown’s column at ESPN.com this afternoon:

Art Rooney, Dan’s father, paid the NFL a $2,500 franchise fee to found the team in 1933, according to the Steelers. In 1975, he officially turned over day-to-day operations to his oldest son, Dan, who became Steelers president.

Art Rooney passed away in 1988 and passed the Steelers down to his five sons — 18 percent each — with the McGinley family owning the other 10 percent. Dan Rooney continued to run the team as president and two decades after his father’s death he kept the Steelers in the only family that has ever owned them.

Ownership philosophy: Puts a premium on stability and building through the draft. Strong drafts led to the Steelers playing in three Super Bowls, winning two of them, from 2005 to 2010.

Playoff appearances: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014

Super Bowl appearances/championships: Lost to Cowboys 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX (1995 season), beat Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL (2005), beat Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII (2008), lost to Packers 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV (2010).

Defining moment in ownership tenure: The Steelers were leaning toward taking Arkansas offensive lineman Shawn Andrews with their first-round pick in 2004 after quarterback Eli Manning and Philip Rivers were selected before No. 11 overall. Rooney did not want the Steelers to pass on a potentially great quarterback, something they had done with Dan Marino in 1983. Rooney steered the conversation toward Ben Roethlisberger as he recounted in his book, “Dan Rooney: My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL.” The Steelers drafted the Miami (Ohio) quarterback, who became a starter in the third game of 2004 because of an injury to Tommy Maddox and went 13-0 in the regular season. Roethlisberger has been entrenched as the Steelers’ quarterback since and led them to a pair of Super Bowl wins — Pittsburgh’s first world championships since the 1970s.


More from Mr. Brown here.

Kevin Cundiff, a four-tour U.S. Army veteran, sent us an email after viewing last week’s Warrior Wednesday post and told us he wanted to “add to the collection” with his own photos:

“These were all snapped in Afghanistan in 2011. Except the flag, that was Iraq 2010.” — Kevin

*Thank you so much for sharing these photos Kevin, and a bigger THANK YOU for you service to our country! God Bless you!!

“Ben is our general. Any time he is in the huddle, you always know game on and he is on the verge of being special and doing things to make guys around him better. He is one of the best to do it. When he shows up, we know what time it is. It absolutely amazes me every time he makes a huge play. He is back there shaking off defenders, being able to throw the ball down the field. He just continues to get better, evolve, play hungry and be motivated.” — Antonio Brown.

From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com today:

Some of Roethlisberger’s teammates shared what Roethlisberger means to the offense and what makes him the franchise quarterback that he is.


More from wide receiver Antonio Brown:

“Ben is the ultimate leader. He makes guys around him better, just with the little things, being prepared, and challenging the offense. He is always encouraging everyone to get better.”


Running back Le’Veon Bell:

“He means everything. He is the guy that makes us go. In the huddle, in practice, you see him put everybody on the same page. He is the starter, he is the leader of the offense and we all follow him.

“For me personally, there are a lot times during games he has told me not to get frustrated. He understands I might have the first eight carries and only get two yards on each carry. He always tells me to stay patient, my runs will come and things like that. He is a leader and he helps me become a leader.”


Guard Ramon Foster:

“Ben means everything to the offense. He says most games the offense goes as the offensive line goes. Ben puts us, the offensive line and the offense in general, in the right position. He commands the field. When he is calling the plays he is great at putting us in the right place.

“I am glad to have him as my quarterback and I think he is one of the elite guys in the league. It’s fun playing on the line with him as the quarterback. A lot of teams don’t have that luxury of having an experienced quarterback and Ben has won two Super Bowls. He knows how to win, he knows it was just a matter of us catching […]