They're your neighbors, your friends, your colleagues, your parents.
They are CNN Heroes, each of whom shows how one person can truly make a difference.
Again this year, CNN encourages you to tell us about these everyday people changing the world -- by nominating them at CNNHeroes.com. Taking a few minutes to share their story with us could propel them to worldwide recognition.
Maybe someone's selflessness has directly impacted your life.
Destiny Bush nominated her mentor and "second mother," Tawanda Jones, whose drill team provides discipline and inspiration to thousands of children in the violent city of Camden, New Jersey.
"It was important for the
world to see this wonderful individual who commits herself effortlessly
-- her heart, her body, her soul -- to our youth," said Bush, now a
graduate student.
Or maybe you know an individual in your community whose personal story and dedication inspires you.
Denada Jackson's mom used
to style Robin Emmons' hair. When Jackson bumped into Emmons years
later, she learned about Emmons' efforts to help low-income
neighborhoods access healthy, fresh food.
"It just seemed right
that I would nominate her, because I've never seen anyone that happy
about helping other people," Jackson said. "She's making it happen for
others in her community. Just to watch her be honored for that, to get a
thank you, that was awesome."
But you don't have to personally know the individual you nominate. Just be familiar with their work.
Johanna Robinette, for example, lives in the same small town as Dale Beatty, who helps build and modify homes for injured veterans. Robinette had heard about Beatty's organization, and she saw nominating him as a way to help draw attention to his efforts.
"To be able to take that
time to do that, I was thankful that I did and thankful that (he was)
honored in that way," Robinette said. "It felt great to be a part of
that."
It's easy to nominate an
everyday person changing the world, but a thoughtful, well-written
nomination is essential to help yours stand out from the thousands we
receive. Here are some suggestions we hope will help you in crafting
your nomination for consideration.
• Think about what makes your hero special. Ask
yourself: What makes my nominee unique? What specific accomplishment
has he or she achieved that is truly remarkable? What impact has his or
her work had on others? We encourage you to watch videos of previous CNN
Heroes to familiarize yourself with the achievements of the inspiring
individuals we honor as "everyday people changing the world."
• Take a look at our nomination form.
We suggest you review the information requested about yourself, your
nominee and his or her work before filling out your submission.
• Tell us about your hero. Take
your time and write from the heart. Remember: What you share -- in your
own words -- is the most important factor in advancing a nomination for
further consideration. You can enter your answers to the essay
questions directly on the form, or write them first in a word-processing
document and "cut and paste" them into each answer field. Please note
the information you provide will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.
• Click "Submit." If
your nomination has been successfully transmitted, you'll see a "thank
you" message on your screen. If you provided us with your e-mail
address, we'll also send a confirmation your nomination has been
received. And yes, we read each and every one.
Moreinfo: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes
