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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.

Ruth Ann Dailey, Beautifying Her Neighborhood

90.5 WESA | By 90.5 WESA

Published May 30, 2014 at 3:30 AM EDT

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

Up until about five years ago, East Deuschtown was peppered with vacant lots, dilapidated houses and was a haven for drug dealers.

Now its landscape has changed dramatically, and a great deal of that metamorphosis can be attributed to Ruth Ann Dailey, mother of three, who traded suburban living for the urban life on the North Side.

“I was living in a ‘McMansion’ in a nice neighborhood, and then I started attending a church down here on the North Side. I felt adrift. I didn’t feel that I was living with a purpose,” Ruth Ann said.

She found that purpose to leave suburbia and help revitalize a depressed town. Ruth Ann bought a run-down building that was once a shoe polish factory and renovated it. But she didn’t stop there.