Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is donating two K-9 unit dogs to Detroit – the city that gave him his first Super Bowl championship.
Roethlisberger, who will be in town Sunday to play the Lions at Ford Field, will pay for two dogs that will replace a pair of retiring dogs from the Detroit Police Department at the end of the year.
Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans said he is grateful.
“We are deeply appreciative to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for this grant,” Evans said. “In these difficult budgetary times, we must rely more and more on outside sources of funding to support our officers’ efforts. This grant will provide our officers additional resources to protect the citizens of Detroit.”
The star quarterback is the founder of The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, which distributes grants to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and cities of each regular season road opponent for the Steelers.
“It’s incredible to see the strong bond that is formed between the dogs and their partners both on the job and at home,” Roethlisberger said in a statement.
For more information about the foundation, visit www.bigben7.com or www.givingback.org.
BY BEN SCHMITT
