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Western Pennsylvania has a strong tradition of neighborhood, personal and community commitment. Our pride in pulling together goes far beyond supporting our deep-rooted sports teams. 90.5 WESA Celebrates People Making a Difference honors the individuals that are making a difference in people's lives on the ground level and reminding us we are all truly a part of each other's lives.This special series, supported by UPMC, will highlight, honor and celebrate Western Pennsylvanians who are unsung heroes daring to make a difference to others in our community.00000176-e6f7-dce8-adff-f6f770c8000000000176-e6f7-dce8-adff-f6f770ca000000000176-e6f7-dce8-adff-f6f770cc000090.5 WESA PA listening area counties:Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Westmoreland, Butler, Armstrong, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Fayette, Indiana00000176-e6f7-dce8-adff-f6f770cd0000This project is made possible by a generous contribution from UPMC.

Denise Zellous, Helping Other People Excel

Debbi Casini Klein

Read and listen to a story about Denise Zellous as part of a series honoring the individuals who make a difference in people’s lives: 90.5 WESA Celebrates People Making a Difference.

Molested when she was 8 years old, Denise turned to drugs and promiscuity at a very young age.

“I didn’t know the difference between sexuality and love,” Denise said. “I made a lot of bad choices, bad decisions and eventually wanted to numb all of those feelings, and I did that with drugs, which ultimately lead me to be homeless for 11 years, living in and out of abandoned houses.”

She had five children and abandoned them for 11 years, seeking comfort in her drug world. Her world finally came crashing down after multiple arrests. In and out of jail for years, Denise hit rock bottom. She then decided to turn her life around, get help, and help others in similar situations.

She realized other women like herself, who were transitioning into permanent housing, needed help. As part of her volunteer work with Dress for Success, she founded the Zellous HOPE Project. HOPE stands for Helping Other People Excel.