Pittsburgh Celebrates Everyday Heroes Making a Difference

When Lauren Rowe walks the halls of West Mifflin Area School District, she's not just an educator and counselor. She's giving back to the very school that raised her, making sure today's students are nourished both inside and out.

Rowe is February's UPMC Community Hero, part of a new KDKA initiative celebrating everyday people doing extraordinary things across Pittsburgh. The monthly series, featured on Pittsburgh Today Live, shines a spotlight on neighbors who might never seek recognition but deserve it anyway.

The stories emerging from this initiative reveal the heart of Pittsburgh. Vesta Mohebbi, a nurse who witnessed the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, now works with her therapy dog Zion to bring comfort to first responders and children throughout the city. Ellis Michaels spends his time in Homestead ensuring veterans' graves never fade into obscurity, honoring those who gave everything for their country.

Susan Cataldi founded Team Friends to support her community. Sonya Dembowski created Poppin' Tags Free Store in Russellton, offering dignity and hope to families who need a boost. Ann Baran dedicates her life to veterans' affairs in Ambridge, making sure those who served never feel forgotten.

Each hero brings something different, but they share a common thread: they saw a need and chose to meet it.

The Ripple Effect

These individual acts of kindness create waves throughout Pittsburgh's neighborhoods. When Michaels restores a veteran's headstone, families find closure. When Dembowski stocks her free store, children get school supplies and parents find relief. When Mohebbi visits a fire station with Zion, first responders get a moment of peace after traumatic calls.

The Community Heroes initiative does more than recognize good deeds. It creates a roadmap for others, showing that you don't need wealth or fame to change lives. You just need to care enough to act.

KDKA invites Pittsburgh residents to nominate their own community heroes through a simple online form. Selected nominees are contacted within two to four weeks, and their stories get shared with thousands across the region.

These aren't politicians or celebrities making grand gestures. They're teachers, nurses, and retirees choosing compassion over convenience, proving that Pittsburgh's greatest resource has always been its people.