CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an award-winning television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and make a difference in their communities. The program was started in 2007. As of 2014 the program was hosted by Anderson Cooper. Nominees are introduced during the fall of each year and the audience is encouraged to vote online for the CNN Hero of the Year. Ten recipients are honored and each receive USD$50,000 ($25,000 in 2014). The top recipient is chosen as the CNN Hero of the Year and receives an additional USD$250,000 ($100,000 in 2014) to continue their work. During the broadcast celebrating their achievements, the honorees are introduced by celebrities who actively support their charity work. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the 2016 edition had an additional segment where 5 previous Hero of the year winners were chosen as candidates for the Superhero of the year award, which was decided with an online poll.
In 2012, the program received a Peabody Award for its 2011 campaign and show. CNN Heroes has also been nominated for the News & Documentary Emmy Awards and is the winner of 3 Gracies.
The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2016:
Jeison Aristizábal of Cali, Colombia: 2016 CNN Hero of the yearCraig Dodson, United StatesSherri Franklin, United StatesBrad Ludden, United StatesLuma Mufleh, United StatesGeorgie Smith, United StatesUmra Omar, KenyaSheldon Smith, United StatesBecca Stevens, United StatesHarry Swimmer, United StatesPushpa Basnet, of Kathmandu, Nepal: 2016 CNN Super Hero of the year The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2015:
Maggie Doyne , of New Jersey, United States: 2015 CNN Hero of the yearJim Withers, United StatesMonique Pool, of SurinameRichard Joyner, United StatesSean Gobin, United StatesBhagwati Agrawal, IndiaKim Carter, United StatesRochelle Ripley, United StatesJody Farley-BerensDaniel Ivankovich, United StatesThe top 10 CNN Heroes of 2014 (in alphabetical order):
Arthur Bloom of the United StatesJon Burns of the United KingdomPen Farthing of the United Kingdom: 2014 CNN Hero of the yearElimelech Goldberg of the United StatesLeela Hazzah of KenyaPatricia Kelly of the United StatesAnnette March-Grier of the United StatesNed Norton of the United StatesJuan Pablo Romero Fuentes of GuatemalaDr. Wendy Ross of the United StatesThe 3 Young Wonders of 2014 (in alphabetical order):
Lily BornMaria Keller, Read Indeed,Joshua Williams, Joshua's HeartThe top 10 CNN Heroes of 2013 (in alphabetical order):
Dale Beatty, co-founder of Purple Heart HomesGeorge BwelleRobin EmmonsDanielle Gletow, founder of One Simple WishTawanda JonesRichard NaresKakenya NtaiyaChad Pregracke of the USA: 2013 CNN Hero of the yearEstella Pyfrom, creator of "Estalla's Brilliant Bus"Laura StachelThe top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 (in alphabetical order):
Pushpa Basnet of Kathmandu, Nepal: 2012 CNN Hero of the yearWanda Butts of Ohio, United StatesMary Cortani of California, United StatesCatalina Escobar of Cartagena, ColombiaRazia Jan of Afghanistan, with an organization located in Massachusetts, United StatesThulani Madondo of Kliptown, South AfricaLeo McCarthy of Montana, United StatesConnie Siskowski of New Jersey, United StatesScott Strode of Colorado, United StatesMalya Villard-Appolon of Kofaviv, HaitiThe 3 Young Wonders of 2012 (in alphabetical order):
Cassandra LinWill LourceyJessica ReesThe top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011 (in alphabetical order):
Eddie Canales of Texas, United StatesTaryn Davis of North Carolina, United StatesSal Dimiceli of Wisconsin, United StatesDerreck Kayongo of Atlanta, United StatesDiane Latiker of Chicago, United StatesRobin Lim of Bali, Indonesia: 2011 CNN Hero of the yearPatrice Millet of HaitiBruno Serato of Anaheim, California, United StatesRichard St. Denis of MexicoAmy Stokes of South AfricaThe top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010 (in alphabetical order):
Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega of Juarez, MexicoSusan Burton of California, United StatesLinda Fondren of Mississippi, United StatesAnuradha Koirala of Kathmandu, Nepal: 2010 CNN Hero of the yearNarayanan Krishnan of Madurai, IndiaMagnus MacFarlane-Barrow of Scotland, United KingdomHarmon Parker of Kenya, AfricaAki Ra of CambodiaEvans Wadongo of Kenya, AfricaDan Wallrath of Texas, United StatesAlso all of the 33 Chilean Miners came on the show to be honored after the 2010 Copiapó mining accident before awards were given out to the list of heroes shown above. Kareem Taylor is the promotional voice for the commercial campaign leading up to the show.
The Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009 were (in alphabetical order):
Jorge Munoz, of Queens, New York, United StatesJordan Thomas, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, United StatesBudi Soehardi, of Kupang, IndonesiaBetty Makoni, of London, United KingdomDoc Hendley, of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United StatesEfren Peñaflorida, of Cavite City, Philippines: 2009 Hero of the YearDerrick Tabb, of New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesRoy Foster, of Palm Beach, Florida, United StatesAndrea Ivory, of West Park, Florida, United StatesBrad Blauser, of Dallas, Texas, United StatesThe Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 were (in alphabetical order):
Tad Agoglia, of Long Island, New York, United StatesYohannes Gebregeorgis, of Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCarolyn LeCroy, of Norfolk, Virginia, United StatesAnne Mahlum, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesLiz McCartney, of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States: 2008 Hero of the YearPhymean Noun, of Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDavid Puckett, of Savannah, Georgia, United StatesMaria Ruiz, of El Paso, Texas, United StatesMarie Da Silva, of (Malawi), residing in Los Angeles, California, United StatesViola Vaughn, of Kaolack, SenegalThe 18 CNN Heroes finalists for 2007 were (in alphabetical order):
Florence Cassassuce, La Paz, MexicoKayla Cornale, of Burlington, Ontario, CanadaMathias Craig, of San FranciscoIrania Martinez Garcia, of Guantanamo, CubaPablo Fajardo, of EcuadorRangina Hamidi, of Stone Ridge, Virginia, United StatesRick Hodes, of Addis Ababa, EthiopiaLynwood Hughes, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United StatesDallas Jessup, of Vancouver, Washington, United StatesPeter Kithene, of Seattle, Washington, United StatesScott Loeff, of Chicago, Illinois, United StatesMark Maksimowicz, of St. Petersburg, Florida, United StatesJames McDowell, of Patchogue, New York, United StatesAnne McGee, of Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesJosh Miller, of Santa Monica, California, United StatesRosemary Nyirumbe, of UgandaSteve Peifer, of Kijabe, KenyaS. Ramakrishnan, of Ayikydy, IndiaJulie Rems-Smario, of Oakland, California, United StatesScott Southworth, of USA