American Heart Association
The Steelers, the NFL and the American Heart Association (AHA) partner on the Play 60 Challenge, a health and fitness program that incorporates physical activity for middle school students into daily classroom and after-school activities. The Steelers also support the AHA's annual Heart Walk.
Art Rooney Scholarship Fund
The Art Rooney Scholarship Fund was established in memory of the late founder of the Steelers, who died in August of 1988 after living most of his life on the North Side. The scholarship annually provides a grant to a North Catholic student and funds the Pittsburgh Promise scholarships for two Perry High School students. Since its beginning, the scholarship has awarded grants to more than 80 local students. The annual Gatorade/Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids’ Kickoff Run is the major fundraiser for the scholarship fund. The event features a 3.1-mile level course on the North Side highlighted by a spectacular finish inside of the stadium.
Crucial Catch
In 2017, the NFL expanded its scope of the Crucial Catch platform to engage and impact more communities through the message of early detection and prevention.
The Steelers are continuing to support breast cancer awareness and participate in numerous initiatives. At the Crucial Catch game in October, the team recognizes local breast cancer survivors in a pregame ceremony. Pink Terrible Towels are distributed to all fans at the game in partnership with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Ford.
As part of the Steelers' breast cancer awareness activities, players who have a loved one affected by the disease serve as chefs at the "Cooking and Eating for a Healthy Life" class at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. In attendance are breast cancer survivors and their families who enjoy the players' efforts in the kitchen.
Members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority distribute breast cancer information at GameDay Live before the breast cancer awareness game.
Cancer Caring Center
A portion of the proceeds from the annual Rock Steelers Style Fashion Show goes to the Cancer Caring Center. A current player chairs the annual Cancer Caring walk and has lunch with the top 10 fundraisers. The Cancer Caring Center is dedicated to helping people diagnosed with cancer, their families and friends cope with the emotional impact of cancer.
Catholic Youth Association
The Steelers organization annually supports the Art Rooney Award dinner, named for the team's founder, Art Rooney, Sr. For more than 80 years, Catholic Youth has served the most vulnerable members of our community, children and the elderly.
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Steelers players visit UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to bring a smile to kids who are battling health issues. Players participate in various events for patients and their families, including the WDVE Radiothon and the Free Care Fund Telethon. Children's also receives proceeds from the 50/50 raffle at a home game.
Chuck Noll Foundation
Pittsburgh Steelers team President, Art Rooney II, announced the establishment of a new foundation, The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, to support continued research and education regarding brain injuries and treatment of sports-related concussions. The Steelers organization helped launch the foundation with an initial contribution of $1 million. The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research will fund research which it believes is the most promising in the area of sports-related concussions and related conditions.
Cystic Fibrosis
A current player serves as honorary co-chair of the 65 Roses Sports Auction which features several teammates and benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The foundation raises funds for research to discover a cure for the disease.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Steelers players and Head Coach Mike Tomlin annually donate and distribute Thanksgiving turkeys for more than 600 needy families in the Pittsburgh area.
Heroes at Acrisure Stadium
The Steelers annually partner with VA Health Care VISN 4 for a special evening at Acrisure Stadium for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Participants, many injured in the war, try out their football skills with the help of Steelers players. The players enjoy the opportunity to thank the "true heroes" for their service to ensure our continued freedom.
The Heyward House
The Heyward House was started in 2015 by Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. At the core of Cam's heart are kids - whether it's visiting with children who have serious medical conditions, taking kids shopping for winter clothers, or sending birthday presents and cards to kids who rarely get celebrated.
The Heyward House supports Kids Voice, the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation, and many other causes.
Holy Family Institute-Pittsburgh Steelers Courage House
Greta Rooney, wife of Art Rooney II, chairs the annual Courage House Awards luncheon. Each year a Steelers player is chosen as the Ed Block Courage Award winner for overcoming illness or injury.
Make-A-Wish
The Steelers organization works closely with Make-A-Wish to grant wishes. The wish experiences include meeting favorite players, a behind-the-scenes look at the Steelers practice facility and tickets to a home game.
NFL Play 60
The NFL's program for an active generation encourages kids to be physically active for 60 minutes each day in an effort to combat childhood obesity. Many Steelers events incorporate the Play 60 message with players and coaches demonstrating the importance of fitness and activity. The team partners with American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) to promote Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) which encourages students to eat healthy.
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year
The team's Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given annually to a player who best represents the late Chicago running back's commitment to community.
Rock Steelers Style Fashion Show
The team's annual fashion show features current players and their families modeling clothing from local and national retailers. The show is chaired by Greta & Art Rooney and Kiya & Mike Tomlin, with two current Steelers players serving as co-captains. Proceeds benefit the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program and the Cancer Caring Center.
Rookie Club
The Rookie Club enables the new players to work as a group in order to gain confidence in their ability to interact with the community as Pittsburgh Steelers. It is an introduction to community service during the players' first year with the team and provides a sense of camaraderie.
Salvation Army - Project Bundle-Up
Players and their families annually take disadvantaged children shopping for winter outerwear as part of the Salvation Army's Project Bundle-Up program. Patricia Rooney, wife of the late Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, and Joe DiNardo, retired WTAE-TV weatherman, are founders of the program. A Steelers coach or player has served as the host of the event since its inception.
Steelers Alumni Weekend
Each year the team reunites a group of former players for Alumni Weekend. The weekend includes a fundraising dinner on Saturday night to benefit the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. The dinner is highlighted by the alumni sharing stories of their playing days and a silent auction. On game day the players are introduced to the fans at halftime.
Steely McBeam
Mascot Steely McBeam makes appearances at training camp, home games and numerous charitable events. For more information, visit www.steelers.com/community/appearance-requests/.
United Way
The Steelers annually host the United Way's campaign kickoff at halftime of a preseason game, featuring three corporate participants in a field goal competition. The winner presents the United Way with its first campaign donation of the year. A Steelers United Way spokesman visits local corporations to encourage support of the annual campaign.
Urban Impact Foundation
The Urban Impact Foundation (UIF) is a faith-based, nonprofit corporation which fosters Christian community development on Pittsburgh's North Side. One of the outreaches is through athletic programs and events. Many Steelers players participate in a football clinic held by UIF on Pittsburgh's North Side each summer.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin participates in the annual ManUp Pittsburgh conference which encourages local men to be better fathers and role models.
Veterans / Military
Steelers players visit the local VA Hospitals to spend time with the patients who have served our country. At several home games each year, veterans and active military personnel are honored for their service to the United States.
For Veterans Day, the Steelers honor a veteran from each of the wars going back to World War II. Color guards, representing all branches of the military, are present at each home game.
Westmoreland County Food Bank
Steelers fans attending the night practice at training camp each August help the less fortunate in Westmoreland County by donating food and money to the local food bank.