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Subject: Big Ben not all bad
Bart,
I said I'd be done with the Ben Roethlisberger
discussion, but earlier in the week you posted the link
to the Sports Illustrated article about Ben,
so I thought I'd give you something else to think about.
Maybe Ben can be a douche sometimes. He
can also be a good person.
Eric in Orchard Park, NY
The Thomas Jefferson Jaguars trip to the Big Dawg Bowl
The Little Jaguars almost didn't get to play in
the bowl, which is hosted by Steelers fan and rapper Snoop Dogg,
because of finances. That is where Roethlisberger
stepped in by paying all of the travel expenses for the team and coaches,
continuing the commitment the NFL and Steelers
have with youth football.
"He said he sponsored us because these kids love
to play football and I want to give them the chance.
The fact that we won it for him was awesome.
He said these kids love the game and I want to give them
the opportunity. If everyone would adopt that
approach it couldn’t be anything but positive."
-- Jim Nassida, Jaguars Football Coach
____________
Ronald McDonald House - Pittsburgh
"Behind the scenes at the [Shaq Vs] TV shoot,
Mr. Roethlisberger was hosting young patients from
the Ronald McDonald House, giving special attention
to a transplant patient from Kenya, a young boy
who did not know who the football superstar was.
"He has supported the charity since early in his
career, when he began paying for catered Christmas
and New Year's feasts at the Shadyside facility.
Lately he has taken on more responsibility, becoming the
honorary chairman of its capital campaign. A
portion of sales proceeds from his barbecue sauce goes
to the charity." -- From an article in the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, August 2009.
And:
"He is so good with our kids," Ronald McDonald
House Charities of Pittsburgh executive director
Barbara Reed Martin said. "When he talks to them,
he makes them feel as if they were the only person in the room.
When a kid isn’t feeling good, he knows exactly
what they need to hear to feel better." -- From an article at FoxSports.com,
May 2009.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/marv ... ben-050310
___________
The Kids Wish Network: Cynthia
"A teen with a life-threatening illness had her
wish to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers
granted through Kids Wish Network and the generosity
of Big Ben and the Steelers." --
Madeline Robinson, Kids Wish Network, January
4, 2010.
___________
Make-A-Wish Foundation: Rick
"More than anything, Rick wanted to meet the team's
star quarterback, Ben Roesthlisberger.
When he walked through the door, Rick's eyes
lit up like a Christmas tree. Big Ben gave a speechless Rick a huge hug.
Rick's mom said, "If you would have seen that,
you would have had a tear in your eye. Rick didn't have a lot to say, but
that hug said it all."
Make-A-Wish Foundation: Akeem
Seconds after 14-year-old Akeem Havens said he
hoped to meet Ben Roethlisberger,
the Pro Bowl quarterback walked into the media
room at the Steelers' South Side facility on Thursday.
With a black playbook in his hand and a perturbed
look on his face, Roethlisberger said to his newest teammate,
"Hey, what's going on here? We don't have time
for this. We have practice. Are you ready to practice?"
"Let's go," Havens said with a smile.
It was one of the highlights in a day filled with
them for Havens, who since a car wreck at age 7
has been a quadriplegic and has experienced kidney
failure. -- From an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 30, 2008.
______________
Special Olympics Football Camp
Ben led a team of NFL superstars in a football
camp for Special Olympics athletes in Washington, D.C. on April 16th, 2009.
The clinic is one of a series of charity efforts
organized by the National Football League and its players' union on behalf
of the Special Olympics.
Link
______________
Alliance Against Highly Addictive Drugs
Ben serves an Honorary Chair in Pittsburgh for
the Alliance Against Highly Addictive Drugs,
for which he's made multiple appearances to meet
middle school and high school students and promote an anti-drug lifestyle.
______________
American Library Association
Ben is an Honorary Chair for the American Library
Association (ALA), appearing on
school posters and speaking to elementary school
children on the value of reading.
______________
The Ben Roethlisberger Challenge - Charity Basketball Game
For the past three years, Ben has raised money
for his former high school's athletic department in Findlay, Ohio
by playing in a charity basketball game in a
team comprised of fellow Steelers teammates versus some standout
local high school basketball players. In 2009,
he was joined on the court by his sister Carlee, who plays for the Oklahoma
University women's team.
The event has raised over $70,000.
http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/new ... ?id=117644
_______________
Joseph DeBacco meets his Idol
An 8-year-old boy suffering from a devastating
disease got a Steelers-sized wish granted last night.
Joseph DeBacco got to meet his idol, Steelers
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a very special taping of the PNC
Hines Ward Show.
Joseph, who was only given a 10- to 15-percent chance to live, was ecstatic when he found out he would be meeting Big Ben face-to-face.
"I want to have him sign my jersey and I feel awesome." -- From an article on KDKA, December, 2007.
_______________
2009 NFL Players Asssociation's Annual J.B Awards
Ben was honored on April 16th, 2009 with an award by the league and its partners for his community service.
_______________
Big Ben's BBQ Sauce - Fundraising
Over the past three years, Ben's endorsements
with "Big Ben's BBQ" has helped raise close to $150,000
for various charitable organizations. His likeness
appears on five flavors of Big Ben's BBQ Sauce and
three fully-cooked meats that are sold in local
stores.
"Ben has been great with the fund-raising. I have
nothing but positive things to say from our experiences with Ben."
-- Company owner John Kosko.
______________
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation
Ben founded "The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation"
to help police departments and fire departments get grants
and funding for k-9 units and service dogs. In
2009, the Foundation awarded grants totalling over $42,000 across
the United States. In addition, the Foundation
gave $250,000 to the Pittsburgh police and fire departments for canine
armor.