From the floor of the Pentagon, first lady Michelle Obama welcomed CNN to promote its awards for everyday heroes who help their communities and the world. “The heart of CNN lies in its reporters and anchors who report from all corners of the globe, covering every corner of human activity,” Obama said. “There is something of a bond between CNN and all of you.”
The network began honouring everyday heroes in 2011, announcing in early May that this year, the 10th annual CNN Heroes award will be given to 10 men and women. “What we’re recognizing is what happens, not what makes the news,” said Cami Erlandson, vice president and global head of development at CNN.
“People across the globe are seeing CNN heroes every day,” Erlandson said. “It’s not about CNN, it’s about people. We bring you these heroes to tell you about their hero and the extraordinary ways they made the world a better place.”
Twenty-five winners have been announced already, including these 10 individuals:
Ryan “Pookie” Carson lives in Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and A.S. in Finance. Because he was always involved in sports, his grandfather thought it would be a good idea for Pookie to start selling T-shirts. After several seasons with the business, the family sold the business, and Pookie decided he wanted to build a website to give back to children. He later launched His House, a website to help children with disabilities.
Shanna Brandelli is a Washington, D.C.-based advertising professional, best known for her talent and passion in creating and selling custom jewelry, watches, and purses. She has run Shanna Designs since 2002, but her personality shines through through her customer service initiatives. She founded the “Just Before Dark” bracelet campaign in 2012, to show support for the mothers in the military who experience postpartum depression.
Robin Nanda is executive director of the Indigenous Relations Center of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Nanda’s professional and personal paths were aligned from the beginning when she was recruited by a program at the University of Kansas where she studied education. After taking the required two years off to re-connect with her own identity, she found her passion for working with children and families at an African American youth center in Kansas City.
Naomi Hill is founder and president of the nonprofit Youth Pre-school of Possibility (YPOP), which aims to establish an educational and community life center for children who might otherwise be isolated, homeless, or in foster care. She built YPOP through her own resources and family’s help. By 2013, she had the grant for YPOP and she reached more than 500 children and 150 families in 12 months. She reached $250,000 in donations through Pledge Miles, and plans to open a YPOP 2.0 facility in the summer of 2020.
Amrit Kashyap is an accomplished Marine and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. While he served his country and the nation as an Infantry, Engineer, and M3 Engineer at Camp Fallujah, he had opportunities to serve his community back home as an emergency medical technician and community/paramedic. He spent six years on active duty and was deployed to Iraq. His inspiring mission in 2006 was to create a program called Forgive for Afghanistan and Iraq to donate money to widows, or children or parents and establish clinics to take care of basic medical needs of this region, which is a major humanitarian relief. His mission is making a difference, and it’s doing so on a global scale.
Rajesh Shukla is an academic, award-winning professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University. He was a recipient of the Humanitarian Of The Year award from the Associated Collegiate System for his extraordinary humanitarian efforts. Since starting an impact foundation in 2005 called Skill For Life, he has helped millions of low-income youth to get a technical or technical training. He is the recipient of a number of awards including the Commemorative Peace Prize and the Ernst & Young Award.
Sharon Phillips is a representative of the Amble House of Hope, a homeless and homeless shelter, which operates 16 homeless shelters in Atlanta, Georgia. Based on her own experience as a homeless teenager, Sharon created Amble House in 1996 when she was 19-years-old. The organization has a flagship location that is situated in a building that is 100% lead-safe with important programs designed to help the children and families who enter their program. The mayor of Atlanta has officially named Amble House “city-sponsored shelter” in recognition of its success.
David Shaver of the video production