Apr 30, 2008 3:14 pm US/Eastern
Big Ben Makes Big Donation For Local Police Dogs
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is making a special donation to local police departments to help their canine units.
Roethlisberger met with officers today and announced that he is donating almost $100,000 in grant money to be used for special equipment and police dogs.
Big Ben says he has always been a dog lover and his foundation got started when the police dog in his hometown of Finley was recently shot and killed.
"I had friends on the police force and my dad and I talked about it and thought, 'Wouldn't it be a nice idea to buy them a new police dog,' and that's how this got started," he said.
The Pittsburgh Police Force is one of the 12 departments receiving grants of about $8,000 each for canine units, including new dogs, canine bullet proof vests and other equipment.
Roethlisberger also gave grants to police departments in the cities where the Steelers played away games as well as his hometown of Findley, Ohio.
He says he plans to continue giving out grants to local police departments and encourages any other department to apply again through his website
bigben7.com.
"I think they're very underappreciated in what they do," Roethlisberger said. "They're not thanked enough so being able to do this is a thank you from me."
Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Grant Recipients
- Allegheny Township Police Department
- Allegheny Sherriff's Department
- Indiana Township Police Department
- City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public Safety
- University of Pittsburgh Police Department
- Police Department of Fox Chapel
- City of Monessen Police Department
- Brentwood Borough Council (Brentwood Police Department)
- Homestead Police Department
- Clairton Police Department
- Heidelberg Borough Police Department
- Munhall Police Department
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