CNN, the worldwide leader in news, announced today the Top 10 Heroes of 2014, recognizing everyday people who are changing the world.
The network also announced that online voting for the “CNN Hero of the Year” opened today, October 2nd, and will run through Sunday, November 16th, at midnight PT. Voters can log on to CNNHeroes.com to cast ballots for their favorite Top 10 Heroes once a day, every day. Social media users can also share their votes on Facebook and Twitter.
Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute will air on Sunday, December 7th, at 8:00pm ET on CNN U.S., and will be simulcast on CNN International and CNN en Español. Hosted by Anderson Cooper, and returning to the iconic American Museum of Natural History in New York City, CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute will honor individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others. Since its inception, CNN Heroes has received tens of thousands of submissions from more than 100 countries and profiled over 200 heroes.
“It has been CNN’s great honor for the past eight years to shine a spotlight on these remarkable individuals who are making a difference in their communities and the world,” said Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide. “We are proud to provide a platform for these heroes to share their stories and their important work with our global audiences.”
Each of the Top 10 CNN Heroes will receive a $25,000 grant, and one of the honorees, after global voting, will be named the CNN Hero of the Year, receiving an additional $100,000 grant to further aid their cause. Voting can be done at www.CNNHeroes.com and through the CNN app. Voters will also be able to view the honorees’ profiles on the site.
This year, CNN continues its collaboration with the Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide. As part of the prize package, the Annenberg Foundation will provide all of the 2014 Top 10 Heroes free organizational training through a customized version of the Annenberg Alchemy program. Alchemy offers practical guidance for nonprofit leaders in fundraising, communications, management of volunteers and strategies to build and keep a strong board of directors.
The 2014 honorees are:
· Arthur Bloom (Bethesda, MD) Since 2007, Arthur Bloom has used the healing power of music to help hundreds of injured soldiers recover their lives. His program, MusiCorps, pairs professional musicians with troops recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, helping them play instruments and write and record music.
· Jon Burns (Stockton-on-Tees, England) Jon Burns is rallying fellow soccer fans to help children from poor communities in cities hosting the World and Euro Cups. Since 2006, his nonprofit, Lionsraw, has engaged more than 500 volunteers in construction projects and educational programs that have benefitted nearly 6,000 children.
· Pen Farthing (Tiverton, England) Pen Farthing, a former Royal Marine Sergeant, is reuniting soldiers with the stray dogs they befriend while serving in Afghanistan. His nonprofit, Nowzad Dogs – named for the stray Farthing rescued during his tour – has helped more than 700 soldiers from eight countries.
· Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg (Southfield, MI) Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg lost his 2-year-old daughter to leukemia in 1980. Today, his nonprofit, Kids Kicking Cancer, uses martial arts to help children battling serious illnesses manage pain during medical treatments. The group has helped more than 5,000 children and their families discover their power within.
· Leela Hazzah (Washington, D.C., and the Amboseli region of Kenya)
Leela Hazzah has dedicated her life to lion conservation. In 2007, she started Lion Guardians, a nonprofit that works with African Maasai warriors to protect lions. The group now employs more than 70 Lion Guardians throughout East Africa and has helped the lion population grow.
· Patricia Kelly (Hartford, CT) Patricia Kelly is using horses to motivate at-risk children in Hartford, Connecticut. Her nonprofit, Ebony Horsewomen, provides horseback riding lessons and teaches animal science to more than 300 young people a year.
· Annette March-Grier (Baltimore, MD) Annette March-Grier grew up in her family’s funeral home. After her mother’s death, she created Roberta’s House, a nonprofit in Baltimore that helps children and their families cope with grief. Since 2008, more than 1,000 children have benefited from the group’s free programs.
· Ned Norton (Albany, NY) For the last 25 years, Ned Norton has provided strength and conditioning training to people living with a variety of disabilities. He now trains more than 120 people every week through his nonprofit, Warriors on Wheels.
· Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes (Jocotenango, Guatemala) Amid the violence in his native Guatemala, Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes turned his family’s home into a haven for young people. Since 2006, his nonprofit, Los Patojos (the Little Ones), has provided educational opportunities and support to more than 1,000 children.
· Dr. Wendy Ross (Philadelphia, PA) Dr. Wendy Ross is opening new worlds to autistic children and their families. Since 2010, her nonprofit, Autism Inclusion Resources, has helped hundreds of families navigate challenging public settings, such as sporting events and airport travel.
CNN’s Kelly Flynn is the creator and senior executive producer of the CNN Heroes initiative and CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. Said Flynn, “I am thrilled that we are returning this year to the legendary American Museum of Natural History and that, after eight years, we continue to bring attention to these amazing people and their very important work. All of us at CNN are humbled and heartened by the difference these Heroes are making.”
