For the Make-A-Wish Foundation:

On Pittsburgh cityscape photographer David Dicello!


If you’re not following David on Twitter or Facebook, THIS is what you’re missing out on:


“Pittsburgh. The Steel City. The City of Champions. The City of Bridges. It has many names, but I know it by one: home. Pittsburgh is the perfect combination of “big” city living and a small town feel. We have history in our steel mills, our sports teams and our culture that make us unique in terms of great American cities. The other thing that is great about the ‘Burgh from a photography standpoint is that no matter how you look at it, you are sure to have an incredible view. From high up on Mt. Washington or the West End Overlook, or down low on the North Shore or Point State Park, the views of my hometown rival some of the best in the world.

“But probably my favorite thing about Pittsburgh is the pride that the people who live there have. We are proud to say where we are from, proud to be from a city that was the keystone of industry in the United States for so many years. The people who leave here always want to come back, because there really isn’t any place quite like Pittsburgh anywhere else.” — David, BIG Pittsburgh sports fan.


You can see more of his breathtaking images – many of which he shares on social media – of Pittsburgh, Heinz Field, PNC Park, and the Penquins on the ice, on the portfolio page of his website!


*David, thank you for following the website and for sharing your beautiful work with us!

“Officer Fritsch is heading to Indiana with Santo this weekend for the start of K9 training! We are very excited to have another K9 to help us in our efforts to combat the influx of drugs in our community. In addition, we are extremely grateful for the grant opportunity through the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. Budgets are so tight and the funding from BRF aids in accomplishing our mission.” — Captain Ben Bliven, Wausau Police Department, to us on March 28, 2014.

Ben’s foundation had a busy 2013-2014 season, distributing more than $135,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country. We are so pleased to share with you these updates from some of the agencies that received those grants:


From WSAU News in Wisconsin:

Wausau Police officers have a new K-9 helper. Captain Ben Bliven says the new four-legged officer was brought to Wausau last weekend for his initial orientation. “Santo is our newest addition to the police department. He is a two-and-a-half year old German Shepherd, and his partner will be Shawn Fritsch, who is our newest canine handler.”

Santo and officer Shawn Fritsch will be leaving this weekend for Denver, Indiana to train for six weeks before going on patrol together.

It costs police departments anywhere from ten to thirteen thousand dollars to acquire new K-9’s. Bliven says Santo was purchased with a grant they received from a professional football player’s foundation that focuses on police dogs. “We were able to purchase Santo with the funding that we received from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation grant that we received back in December.”


You can read more here.

Wausau PD
@WausauPD has a new K9, Santo. Thanks @_BigBen7 for the grant for our newest drug-fighting force! #Steely_Santo

“Welcome SANTO to our department. Ofc Shawn Fritsch picked him up from Denver, Indiana, Von Liche Kennels on Sunday. Thanks to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for the funding to help improve our community.” — Posted by the Wausau (MI) Police Department on their official Facebook page, March 26, 2014.

From Officer Reuter, Fort Lee (NJ) Police Department in an email sent on March 27, 2014:

Hello,

My name is Police a Officer John G. Reuter and I am with the Fort Lee Police Department in Fort Lee NJ. My department […]

And registration for Ben’s Football Camp is in full swing!!

“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 (come on Ben! ;-)) 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! Thanks for having the camp! Keep up the good work!!” — CDR Mark Ziegler, SC, USN

Summer is not far behind so sign your child up now to join Ben in June for some football instruction and fun at his Annual Football Camp. The Camp is sponsored by ProCamps Worldwide and you can save $20 on the registration fee now!


The Camp is open to boys and girls, grades 1 through 8.

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 Ben’s friends will show up to help out #7! Kids that attend Ben’s Camp have had the opportunity to meet and get instruction from Brett Keisel, Charlie Batch, and Coach Tomlin.

You might even get an appearance by Benjamin Jr!


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.

“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 […]

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

August 28th, 2013: Benjamin Jr. enjoys his first Pirates game.
Wishing the best of luck & success to the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout the 2014 season!

And with just a couple more days to spare…

We’re starting off with a story from last summer’s training camp because we couldn’t pass up this big smile – or the reason it was put there:


Christan Melnik is a second grader at Center Township Elementary School in Butler, PA.

2013 was our third year going to training camp. We always try to make it to the night practice at Latrobe Stadium and have never even got close to getting Ben’s autograph. But last summer, with the last open practice moved to St. Vincent, it gave us a better opportunity. We had just arrived at the field, and were sitting along the fence line when I saw Ben headed our way. I encouraged Christian to squeeze his way along the fence and hold his ground and just hold up the football as high as he could. There was a lot of pushing by the bigger kids, but Christian scored an autograph from his favorite player, #7. He clutched that ball all day, it now sits on our mantel above the fireplace.

I keep promising Christian we will make it to a football game at Heinz Field some day before he gets too much older, I’m not exactly getting any younger either. Hopefully, it’ll be one of those lifelong memories between grandfather and grandson that we will never forget. — Tom Melnik, proud grandpa.



Christian is joined this month by some other Lil’ Fans – of the very lil’ variety:


From left to right is RJ Brim, Veronica Roden and Ruby Oakes! Oh, and we also have a #7-wearing dog named “Ben RoethlisBeagle”! You can see him here!



We also have a couple of big fans who made Steeler Nation worldwide during their March travels:


Jasmine Burt showed her Steelers spirit while traveling by boat on the Seane in Paris, and Matthew Leach showed his while traveling by camel in the country of Oman!


You can see all the latest fan photos in Ben’s gallery here, including more fans representing #7, some great artwork, birthday wishes for Ben, and a lucky NFL fan’s day at the Bruce Arians Inaugural Arizona Celebrity Golf Classic!