Monday, June 9

Swinging for a cause: Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward hosted the Irons for Impact Golf Outing on Monday at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club.

Heyward was joined by many of his Steelers teammates for a fun day of golf that benefits The Heyward House Foundation.

The mission of The Heyward House is to impact the lives of today's youth through childhood hunger prevention, promoting literacy, fighting cancer, supporting students and teachers and more.

Looking to help others: Offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, and his wife Sheree Lanihun-Anderson, officially kicked off their foundation at the August Wilson Center.

The couple started the Lanihun-Anderson Foundation to serve as a baseline of financial health and peace for others. Their mission is to bridge the financial disparity gap by providing knowledge, resources and opportunities to others.

"We started the foundation with a focus on financial literacy," said Anderson. "Both of us have identified that a lot of people, especially in their early adult life, are distracted by trying to manage their finances and understand how to budget. Really simple principles that I think they would benefit greatly from if they learned those as early as possible.

"So, we try to target high school and middle school aged kids and just teach them fundamental financial literacy building blocks, like how to budget and what to do when you have a certain amount of money. When they get their first job, for example, they can build a structure that hopefully when they grow into having a professional income, that they have some understanding of what they want to do with their money so they can alleviate that stress and focus on the things that everybody has. Aptitudes that they are gifted with so they can focus on those things as opposed to figuring out how to do with finances."

Anderson majored in mathematical economics with a minor in business in college, so he understands first-hand how important learning young about financial management is.

"I studied mathematical economics, and in my adult life, I now appreciate how valuable it is to have learned some of the financial principles I learned when I was younger," said Anderson. "So, to be able to give back in the way that we do and to be gifted the platform that I've been able to be gifted through the NFL, it's extremely satisfying just to feel like you're helping one person at a time."

Sunday, June 8

Making the game safer: The Steelers hosted their annual USA Football Youth Coach Certification Clinic at Acrisure Stadium, part of a continued effort to make the game safe for young kids across Western Pennsylvania both on and off the field.

The program helps area coaches complete their 2025 Youth Tackle Certification in-person, with training and guidance in multiple areas, including direction from former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams.

Among the topics that were addressed during the clinic were Health and Safety (Concussions, Heat/Hydration, Sudden Cardiac Arrest), Abuse Prevention, Practical Coaching and Team Management, and Principals of Contact (Shoulder Tackling, Block/Block Defeat, Equipment Fitting, and Levels of Contact).

The Steelers help to insure all coaches are able to participate by paying 50 percent of the registration fee for the almost 150 coaches taking part.

* * *

USA Football's Youth Coach Certification, which is accredited by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence, provides coaches with evidence-based knowledge, resources and skills to ensure they teach age-appropriate skills and work on development of the athletes in a holistic approach. The model used focuses on progressive skill instruction that teaches young athletes age-appropriate skills and meets them at their current stage of development.

Thursday, June 5

Not just coffee: Connor Heyward spent time this week visiting Bitty & Beau's Coffee, and it wasn't just to pick up a cup of coffee.

Heyward was learning more about the mission of Bitty & Beau's, who are focused on the human rights movement.

The coffee shop is a place where people with intellectual and development disabilities are a valued part of the workforce, and where diversity is celebrated.

Throughout their nationwide chain, the coffee shop employees more than 400 individuals with disabilities.

The owners of the chain, Amy and Ben Wright, have four children, one who was born with autism, and two who were born with Down syndrome, Bitty and Beau. The family learned that over 80 percent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed nationwide and wanted to create a place to provide an opportunity for them to succeed, which is how the coffee shop was born.

Monday, June 2

Keeping kids active: Monday was a day of fun and games for kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, as they took part in football drills with receiver Ben Skowronek.

Skowronek visited the Dick's Sporting Goods House of Sports at Ross Park Mall, running drills with the kids in a effort to encourage being active and playing outside as the summer months have arrived.

Thursday, May 29

Wednesday, May 28

Steel Curtain returns: The Steel Curtain is back in action at Kennywood Park.

After being closed for the 2024 season, there was an official ribbon cutting for the return of the Steelers themed roller coaster, with it back in action for the amusement park's 2025 season.

"We missed it," said Ryan Huzjak, the Steelers vice president of sales and marketing. "It was an exciting process to get it up and running and see it go through it's first season. We have been patiently waiting for all of the improvements to be made so it can be up and running consistently. We are excited for the re-opening and hopefully a long run."

The Steel Curtain is part of Kennywood's Steelers Country, which was introduced in 2019. For former Steelers defensive back Mike Logan, Kennywood will forever be a part of his life as he grew up in the shadows of the park.

"Kennywood is part of the journey and legacy I will leave behind. It will always be a staple of my life," said Logan, who was on hand along with former tight end Matt Spaeth, fifth-round draft pick Yahya Black and Steely McBeam. "I was raised in West Mifflin in the projects, and I have many stories to tell about Kennywood. It will always be a part of my journey."

For thrill seekers, and those who just love to have their insides turned upside down, The Steel Curtain doesn't disappoint. It takes riders up 220 feet, the tallest coaster in Pennsylvania, and has the highest inversion in North America as well as nine thrilling upside-down twists and turns.

And the best part about it…it's black and gold and the football cars are adorned with jersey stripes and Steelers logos.

"Growing up I didn't think there was any other amusement park in the world besides Kennywood because that's what I was exposed to," said Logan. "It's like the Steelers. I thought the Steelers were the only team to win a championship because I was born in the 1970s. That was the only franchise I knew winning the Super Bowl. I thought we had the only theme park in the world and the only championship football team in the world. The two go hand-in-hand with my upbringing. My family loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they love Kennywood Park."

Thursday, May 1

Neighbors helping neighbors: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the surrounding area were hit with a destructive storm this past week, with over 400,000 people without power at the peak of it.

First responders, city and county staff and area electrical companies have been working around the clock to restore power and clear the area, and the Steelers did their small part to say thank you to them.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth, who said he lost power for a short time, delivered lunch to the Duquesne Light campus on Pittsburgh's North Shore, as well as dropping off food for the City of Pittsburgh Public Works.

"It's really important," said Freiermuth. "That storm was pretty crazy. It was pretty fast, but it did a lot of damage.

"People that are getting the power back on, doing all of the work, they are the ones out there working for long hours, and it means a lot to support them because they support us all of the time.

"It's important to do stuff like this. Everybody in the city tunes in to watch us, so anytime we can give back to the community and put a face to a name, see them and hopefully make their day a little better, it means a lot."

Saturday, April 26

A 'Big' Draft event: The Steelers teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh (BBBSPGH) on Saturday for "The BIG Draft" event to help kids who are looking for a mentor.

A waiting list of almost 150 youth exists that are searching to be mentored by a Big Brother or Big Sister, but a shortage of volunteers is having an impact.

Steelers players attended the event at the West Penn Community Recreation Center, taking part in football drills along and discussing mentors in their lives, along with potential volunteers in an effort to increase the number of Big Brothers and Big Sisters in the Pittsburgh community. Among those participating were Connor Heyward, Logan Lee and Cory Trice Jr.

Wednesday, April 23

Filing a need: When Cameron Heyward sees a need, he takes action.

It's how he was raised, and how he has operated since he was a kid.

It comes from his mother, Charlotte Heyward, and his late father, Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward. And the need he once again fulfilled on Wednesday came from the way things were for his father when he was growing up.

Heyward, and his foundation The Heyward House, hosted the annual Suiting Up for Success Soiree at Acrisure Stadium, celebrating the accomplishments of local high school seniors.

Heyward celebrated male high school seniors in the Pittsburgh area, all chosen by their schools for their leadership, character and ability to overcome challenges faced by today's youth. The Heyward House provided each of them with a custom suit and all the accessories through his 'Craig's Closet' program, as well as a photo shoot and a private dinner with Heyward.

The program is one of the many that earned Heyward the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Craig's Closet has been a staple for The Heyward House since 2018, launched in honor of his father who died from a brain tumor in 2006, at just 39 years old.

His father played football at the University of Pittsburgh, and when he arrived as a freshman running back, he had only one suit, something he was grateful to have since he came from a single-parent home with six siblings.

With so many young men in Pittsburgh facing the same challenge of not having a suit that they could wear to a job interview, internship, events and more, Heyward produced a plan. Craig's Closet provides free dress clothes to help young men as they move forward in life, and the Suiting Up for Success program is an extension of that.

"The idea came from my dad," said Heyward. "When he grew up, he only had one suit. A lot of his friends didn't have suits at all. This is a creative way we thought of to give back to the community and help prepare young men for jobs, or homecoming, moving forward in life. You never know how much a suit can help you present yourself."

Thursday, April 17

Showing appreciation: The Steelers held their annual Community Partner Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday at Acrisure Stadium, an opportunity to recognize the amazing work being done by agencies in the Pittsburgh region to make a difference in the communities they serve.

The Steelers worked with all of the partners throughout the past year, hosting 77 events in 29 different neighborhoods. As a part of it, over 1,500 meals were distributed, and 600 youth were served during the holiday season. In addition, the Steelers Social Justice Fund provided over $500,000 in donations to local organizations.

"We know you are the first line of defense for our vulnerable community members," said Blayre Holmes Davis, the Steelers Senior Director of Community Relations. "We know you are our boots on the ground, and the work that you do is hard. With that, I say thank you for caring for our homeless population, for the woman who just found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer, to creating a welcoming space for our immigrant and refugee population, and to ensuring students have everything they need to have a successful career.

"Know that we see you, you will always have a partner in us, and we will do the best we can to support you."

Steelers President Art Rooney II and Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis were part of a panel discussion about the importance of community involvement and why it is such a staple for the Steelers.

"Down through the years we have been fortunate to have players like Jerome on our team, being leaders in our community, making sure they are setting a great example and supporting all of the efforts of people like you," said Rooney.

Bettis, who was the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2001 for his community service, learned at a young age how important giving back is.

"For me it was pretty easy," said Bettis. "I was impacted by a foundation when I was a young kid in high school, and I was introduced to the game of football. I was more compelled than most to want to give back because of so much that was given to me. My journey with football was because of Reggie McKenzie. He chose to have a football camp for free in Detroit. He had mentoring programs, college SAT programs, so many things I benefited from.

"I said to myself, if I can ever be in a position that I can impact others in this kind of way, that is what I am going to do. When I got to Pittsburgh and I saw the community outreach the Steelers were doing, I knew this was the right place I could go out into the community and do much more.

"This organization does so much in the community. Much more than many of us ever would have thought or guessed. To see the impact they are making, it makes you proud to be a former Pittsburgh Steeler."