Annual CNN Heroes honor network contributors who have made contributions to the world through their contributions to CNN and its programming.
The 10 honorees of CNN Heroes 2019 were announced today.
The honorees are:
Christopher Wallace – The Dudley Football Booster Club – Memphis, TN
Gabe Yamaguchi – Kaiyodo Prosecco Company – Napa, CA
David Ward – A&R Professionals International – Miami, FL
San Juan Rios – Mexico
Natasha Davalos – Yara Healthcare Corporation – USA
Sandra Diaz-Ramos – Wallabout Farms – San Bernardino, CA
Amanda Diaz – Peña Magdalena – Honduras
Nardia Wright – Worldchanging – New York, NY
Travel Extra: CNN Hero Chris Wallace draws connections between conflict, deep down Share Shares Copy Link Copy
Video: Inside CNN Heroes trophy presentation at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom New York, NY – The crowd at CNN’s annual CNN Heroes Awards ceremony at the Hammerstein Ballroom Tuesday night was in for a real treat when guests learned why celebrity reporter and correspondent Don Lemon hosted this year’s event.The audience then laughed their way through 30 minutes of Chris Wallace (Deadliest Catch’s captain of the boat, Aaron “Fish” Martinez, the fest’s sponsor), Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, late night host and author Joel McHale, producer Debra Martin Chase, the Russo brothers, and a spectacular fireworks display. CNN Heroes honorees Smita Agarwal, John Platt, Shylah Brown, Victoria Linder, and Mark Levitt – including Ogechi Otiba (CNN Unplugged and the upcoming CNN Student Lounge documentary) and Brandon Crane – who said that at 22, all he wanted to do was take his mother to the cemetery so he could bury her—were introduced by Anthony Anderson. Jane Velez-Mitchell and Jorge Ramos introduced honorees Kevin Bou (Jeffrey Bezos’ personal assistant), Marta Burgos, and Florencia Mojica.
As the crowd prepared to head into dinner, three women waiting to serve dinner provided the audience with a “what you do…who you know…and why” tour of CNN’s New York City studios, including Nina Tassler, Jon Klein, John Walsh, Ken Jautz, and Lester Holt.