Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete brought daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete to the CNN Heroes event.
The philanthropic couple created The HollyRod Foundation to help people with life altering diseases, like Parkinson’s.
New Orleans is well known for its strong musical background and unfortunately for its tough streets. CNN Hero, Drummer Derrick Tabb, 34, thought he’d give some kids in the Big Easy an alternative to the streets by giving them a beat. His Roots of Music organization has helped keep more than 100 students out of trouble through tutoring and music ed.
Beloved neo-soulster Maxwell heads into the CNN Heroes event where he’ll contribute a performance of “Help Somebody” from his latest album ’Blacksummers’Night’.
For many Army vets, drug addiction is a serious side-effect of serving in a war. CNN Hero, army veteran and former addict Roy Foster’s rehab center Stand Down House helps others who’ve risked their lives for the nation kick their drug dependencies. To date his Palm Beach, Fla. facility has improved the lives of almost 900 veterans.
Laila Ali graces the CNN Heroes red carpet in a cranberry gown. The tough girl, is a constant advocate for activeness as a form of empowerment in young girls.
At a time when docs are loosening up the guidelines for mammograms, West Park, Fla. breast cancer survivor and CNN Hero Andrea Ivory is making sure the women in her area know the facts about breast health. Every Saturday, Ivory gets a group together to go door to door in under-privileged South Fla. neighborhoods, targeting women 35 and older without insurance to educate them about breast cancer and early detection. She’s helped get more than 500 women screened since 2006.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper hosted the event that honors everyday people making extraordinary differences. Cooper credits his personal hero Gordon Parks, the first Black photographer for Life Magazine and the first AA to direct a major motion picture, for inspiring him to become a reporter.
CNN Hero Betty Makoni empowers thousands of Zimbabwean girls who suffer from sexual abuse through her Girl Child Network. GCN offers medical assistance, education and a safe space for the girls to speak about their abuse and evolve from victims to survivors.
Wrestler-come-actor Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson was on the CNN Heroes guestlist. The big guy encourages kids with his Rock Foundation.