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90.5 WESA Celebrates People Making A Difference

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.

Judy Bannon, Providing Cribs For Kids

90.5 WESA | By 90.5 WESA

Published July 18, 2014 at 3:30 AM EDT

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

In 1992, research revealed that sleeping babies should be put on their backs instead of their stomachs. That discovery lead to a 50 percent drop in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

But Judy Bannon still had a major concern – what about the other 50 percent? Why were those babies dying?

Judy was executive director of SIDS of Pennsylvania at the time and began researching that problem. What she found out was that those babies were in unsafe sleeping arrangements, causing their deaths.

With the help of Police Commander Gwen Elliott, Councilman Bob O’Connor and District Attorney Stephen Zappala, she created Cribs for Kids, beginning with 72 cribs that were immediately needed.