CNN names five finalists for 2026 Hero of the Year award

CNN has announced the five finalists for its 2026 Hero of the Year award, recognizing individuals whose nonprofit organizations address food insecurity, homelessness, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Anderson Cooper revealed the finalists on “CNN News Central” on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Cooper will co-host the annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” with CNN anchor Laura Coates on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

The five honorees were selected for their work addressing challenges in communities across the United States and internationally.

Dion Dawson, founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream in Chicago, Illinois, works to combat food insecurity by providing free, fresh produce to households throughout the city.

Dawson experienced homelessness and food insecurity while growing up on Chicago’s South Side. His nonprofit now employs dozens of community members who deliver produce boxes to residents each week.

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, based in Entebbe, Uganda, is the country’s first wildlife veterinarian and founder of Conservation Through Public Health.

Her organization works to protect endangered mountain gorillas while improving health care and economic opportunities for communities living near their habitats. Its programs seek to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife by addressing the needs of both.

Andrew Lunetta founded A Tiny Home for Good in Syracuse, New York, after volunteering at homeless shelters and recognizing the need for more stable housing options.

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His organization provides new and refurbished tiny homes to people experiencing homelessness, combining housing assistance with long-term case management and support services.

Jaina Spagis, co-founder of Cats of San Bernardino in San Bernardino, California, focuses on improving conditions for stray and community cats.

After caring for a stray cat and its kittens, Spagis helped establish a nonprofit that conducts trap-neuter-return programs, rescues and rehabilitates cats with significant medical needs, maintains feeding colonies and finds homes for adoptable animals.

Francisco “Kiko” Trujillo, an industrial engineer in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, co-founded Arizona Sonora Border Projects for Inclusion, known as ARSOBO.

The organization provides wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing devices and rehabilitation services to low-income individuals with disabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Its workforce includes employees who have disabilities themselves.

Each of the five finalists will receive $10,000 from CNN. The individual selected as CNN Hero of the Year will receive an additional $100,000 to support their work.

CNN is also continuing its partnership with the Elevate Prize Foundation, which will award the Hero of the Year another $100,000 unrestricted grant.

The foundation will provide the remaining four finalists with donation-matching grants of up to $50,000 each, along with organizational development assistance and additional resources.

Viewers can vote for their preferred finalist through Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026, at CNN’s Heroes website.

Participants may cast up to 10 votes daily, either for one finalist or divided among multiple nominees. CNN said voters can double their votes by sharing on social media.

The network is partnering with fundraising platform Pledge to facilitate donations to the finalists’ nonprofit organizations.

“CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” which has previously received Peabody and Emmy awards, will air on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español.

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The program will also stream live for CNN All Access and participating pay television subscribers through CNN’s digital platforms.

On-demand viewing will become available Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, through CNN’s streaming service and participating television providers.