These five people are making the world a better place with their kindness, compassion, and courage – and now, they have been named the Top 5 CNN Heroes of 2025.
They were all nominated by you – our audience – and selected by CNN to each receive a $10,000 prize. And starting at 12 p.m. ET today, you can vote at CNN.com/Heroes to help decide who will be the next CNN Hero of the Year and receive an additional $100,000 to continue their inspiring work.
The Top 5 CNN Heroes will receive a grant along with organizational and capacity-building support from The Elevate Prize Foundation, a global nonprofit on a mission to Make Good Famous, committed to bringing visibility to the work of changemakers and inspiring the world.
CNN has teamed up with Pledge, the award-winning fundraising platform trusted by millions, to power giving for this year’s Heroes. Supporters can learn more and make online donations to the Top 5 CNN Heroes’ nonprofits directly from CNN.com/Heroes.
To find out who is named Hero of the Year, watch the 19th annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” hosted by Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates, airing on Saturday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET.
Here’s a look at this year’s Top 5 CNN Heroes:
Quilen Blackwell: Using flowers to empower at-risk youth
While tutoring high school students in Englewood, a community on Chicago’s South Side, Blackwell saw all the challenges young people there faced. So he moved there, and for more than a decade, he’s cultivated opportunities that help them flourish.
His social enterprise, Southside Blooms, transforms vacant lots into eco-friendly flower farms and employs 25 local young people to grow, arrange, and sell flowers at the group’s nonprofit flower shop.
“This is about creating real and tangible opportunity in a place that desperately needs it. Our young people are blossoming and blooming every single day.”
Read Quilen’s full story
Heidi Carman: Easing stress for first responders
When massive wildfires hit California in 2020, Carman and her certified therapy dog, Kerith, made it their mission to comfort firefighters working on the front lines. The experience led her to realize the national need for this type of support, so she started First Responder Therapy Dogs.
Since 2021, her nonprofit has certified more than 500 therapy dog teams and provided much-needed stress relief to more than 150,000 first responders in 46 states.
“We have helped so many people. I’m grateful to Kerith for showing me the way.”
Read Heidi’s full story
Hillary Cohen: Rescuing gourmet meals to feed LA’s hungry
While working as an assistant director in Hollywood, Cohen enjoyed the gourmet crew meals served every day on set but was appalled that the leftovers were thrown away. So, she co-founded Every Day Action.
The nonprofit organizes volunteers and industry professionals to pick up food from film and TV sets, as well as other businesses, and deliver it to people in need. Since 2020, the group has rescued more than 270,000 meals – reducing hunger and keeping the food out of landfills.
“Giving someone that’s hungry, food – is the best thing one can do. Now more than ever, we have to help each other.”
Read Hillary’s full story
Debra Des Vignes: Transforming lives behind bars
After spending a decade as a crime reporter, Des Vignes volunteered at a prison to better understand the people behind the stories she covered. The experience inspired her to start the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop.
Her 12-week creative writing program provides a safe space for incarcerated people to share their stories, process trauma, and find community. Since 2018, the program has expanded to eight correctional institutions across Indiana, Alabama, and Illinois, benefiting more than 250 incarcerated individuals.
“Learning their stories and where they come from puts it all into perspective. It’s given my life meaning, purpose.”
Read Debra’s full story
Tim Woodward: Offering a lifeline to abused animals
Woodward has dedicated his life to saving forgotten and abused animals, and as an animal welfare worker, he realized there was a gap in the system for responding to large-scale cruelty cases. In 2011, he co-founded Animal Rescue Corps.
His organization mobilizes to rescue large numbers of abused animals from horrific conditions and give them a new start in life. To date, he and his group have helped save more than 10,000 animals from further suffering.
“My hope for the animals is that they have the best life possible and that they forget all about where they came from.”
Read Tim’s full story