Community Spotlight: Brett Keisel

With all the negative off-the-field actions we have read about the last several weeks, this article from Teresa Varley, Steelers.com is just what we needed as a reminder that there are players doing great things on and off the field. Brett Keisel is one of those players.

From the article:

From the day he arrived in Pittsburgh, Brett Keisel understood what it meant to be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. It was about holding up a tradition, one forged years before him of excellent play on the field and a commitment to the community off the field.

Keisel saw the example set by the veterans already on the team, from individual events the players hosted to team events they turned out for in hordes, he understood what was important.

“The biggest thing is you see the older guys and how involved they are and how much they care about the community,” said Keisel, ther Steelers Walter Peyton Man of the Year in 2011. “That is a big strength of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the involvement in the community. That is something we take pride in and take pride in teaching the younger guys that it’s important to give back and stay active in the community.

“I have been so blessed, my family has been so blessed, and I was taught to give back, help those in need, those less fortunate. I feel it’s important for my wife Sarah and I to do it now so our kids can learn the lesson. Sarah is so great with staying involved with the community too and never losing sight of how lucky we have it to have all of the blessings we have.”

Keisel does it because as a father of three, he knows what it means to have healthy children and he cares about those who are going through tough times. He also annually takes several patients from Children’s on a fishing adventure, spending the day enjoying one of his favorite pastimes with kids that it means the world to.

“To have the opportunity to give kids who might not have been fishing in a long time or ever, and to take them out there and throw a rod in their hand and put a vest on their chest, and let them relax and enjoy being in the great outdoors and everything that comes with it is special,” said Keisel. “This last year was special because of the kids we had, one kid in particular named Marty who has been in and out of the hospital since he was born. He has issues, but it doesn’t keep him down. He is the happiest kid in the world. Before I even met him he jumped on me and wrapped his arms around me and told me how excited he was.

“It soaked in with all of us. He is one of those special kids that when you are around him, it changes your life.”

Read more on how Brett and his family make a difference in their community HERE.

You may also read more about Brett’s involvement in the community by clicking on the Community tab on the banner.