here. why we are here, it's 365 days since my favorite event of the year. that's right. it's not a buffet. my favorite event is cnn heroes. something that is really good for the soul. that's right. i'm talking about two hours of goodness. yes, this is the oscars for good people. this is the super bowl of kindness. this is a party size chip bag of decency. it's time to restore your belief in humanity. anyway, i got all decked out in my cnn heroes swag. i even put on cnn underwear. not really. kind of really. jake tapper gave it to me. let me show you. can you get the camera lower? what do you mean? i guess they don't want to show that. anyway, enjoy the show. and thank you, heroes, all of you. ♪ >> from cnn studios at hudson yards in new york city, this is the 14th annual cnn heroes, an all star tribute. please welcome your hosts, anderson cooper and kelly ripa. >> welcome to cnn heroes, an all star tribute. welcome to viewers watching around the world. we usually broadcast from the american museum of natural history in new york. this year, obviously, that's not possible. we do have our own great blue whale to make us feel at home. there it is. >> i'm so glad you brought your blue whale from home. he matches your eyes so beautifully. it's good to be in your quarantine bubble. that is for sure. not only do i get to stand here next to you tonight, but i get to see you all the time. >> kelly and i have been quarantining together. we had thanksgiving together. i don't get to talk to anybody else. >> that's all we have is each other. i wanted to be here tonight because just like all the other cnn heroes celebrations, tonight is about hope and decency and compassion. i know i say this every year, but we could all use a little of that right now. >> for sure. this year, we are celebrating remarkable people as well as their acts of kindness and compassion involving the ongoing pandemic and the fight for racial equity and justice. we will talk to heroes on the front line of the pandemic and highlight organizations doing critical work right now. for the last few weeks, viewers have been voting on their choice for this year's most inspiring moment. we will reveal that later tonight. >> we are grateful to all of the artists who have volunteered their time and participated remotely. jeffrey wright and glen close are joining us again. cynthia erivo will perform. millie bobby brown and many others. >> anyone else? >> there's a surprise guest. >> meghan, the duchess, is here. >> welcome to the cnn heroes family and to all of our guests. let's get started. >> as the pandemic continues to fill hospitals across the country, we want to begin tonight with our front line workers. heroes before, during and always because of their selfless work. one of our 2016 cnn heroes and his organization are providing front line workers with a chance to regroup from their work. >> here to honor them is a champion for the light of hope, for children in israel, which helps children fighting cancer and the star of "wonder woman 1986" gal godet. >> we can never forget what they are doing for us. the doctors and nurses and hospital workers are doing day in and day out, night after night, in the middle of this horrific pandemic. they are signing in for their shift exhausted with their heads held high. they are prepared for the worst, covid ravaging body after body. they wear masks until sores line the bridges of their noses and checks. they help intubate patients for hours on end. when the end has come to countless family members, friends and neighbors, they are the ones who help with the letting go. they are in the room because loved ones can't be. they hold a mom's hand, stroke a father's hand, sing to him. heros are what they are. in their extraordinary work for us, they suffer and struggle with that daily trauma and pain. they must find a place to heal and recharge in order to rise again, go back to this courageous, noble and life saving work. work we will never forget and for which we will always be grateful. >> at the beginning of this, it was haunting walking the halls of three different icus and walking past every single room and it was covid patient, covid patient. you see all these thank you notes in the halls. thank you for risking your life. am i really doing this? am i really risking my life? it's very hard to look at life knowing i am being actively traumatized and i'm likely going to have ptsd from this. put that out of your head because you have to show up to work and take care of these patients. >> it's been trauma after trauma in the hospital. i feel super, super burned out. yeah. it's been hard. >> it's not easy having these conversations and being vulnerable with each other. >> i wanted to offer myself a chance to meet other people who have experienced things that no humans, no health care workers should have had to experience. but also to challenge myself. i'm terrified of heights. never rock climbed. tomorrow will be an experience. >> oh, my gosh. >> you got it. >> i think reaching out and going on this is another first step to reflecting on everything that we have dealt with over the past few months. >> i'm a little terrified and exhausted. like my day to day life. >> we have been pushing ourselves on these new experiences and challenges which i will take empowerment. we slowed it down. we focus on the lungs of this respiratory viral illness that when you get outside and breathe, you are so thankful for it. i can breathe, my lungs still work. >> it feels like we have taken the guards down and we are starting to feel things again. maybe moving forward, i can handle this a lot better and knowing there's other people, that i'm not alone. >> good job. >> wow. >> so many of us have dealt with emotions that we have buried for so many of the past few months. i don't think any of us could ever have asked for this help. >> i did it! >> it's truly been a wonderful experience and something that i will remember for the rest of my life. >> when will we have a vaccine? that was one of the first questions question asked the moment covid hit. whether or not you had it or you watched someone you love struggle with the cough, the fevers, the lingering brain fog and threats of blood clots and heart struggles, we all wanted to know when. what's truly a scientific wonder is the speed of their pursuit for this vaccine. normally, it takes years and years to develop an effective one. not at this moment. we rallied the smartest people we know across this country and around the world to find it faster than ever before. scientists and researchers hunkered down in their labs with the weight of our future on their shoulders. they tested and retested. they went through the rigors of the trials. and they couldn't have done this work without the extraordinary souls who offered their health and well-being, who raised their hands, volunteered and said, i will do it, for the sake of humanity. to the men and women who worked so hard for this treatment and the women and men who willingly signed up for every trial, know that our gratitude is as deep and profound as your commitment was to save countless lives in this world. >> i'm a scientist actively engaged on developing a vaccine against covid. i spent almost my entire adult life studying this class of technology. dedicated space so you can flow up and down. you work late into the night. you come home and on the news is the pandemic. >> significant breaking news. a potential vaccine against the coronavirus. >> it's almost like living in a movie. the meaning of each feels different. you can statistically look at how many hospitalizations in each of the batches potentially save and how many deaths. it becomes a powerful thing to think about. >> the covid-19 vaccine will be the first widely distributed using the mrna technology. >> if you asked me five years ago, maybe we wouldn't be ready. i feel like we're all lucky in a way that the science was there, the engineering was there. >> then came rigorous testing and making enough for hundreds of millions of doses. >> i remember the lead up to the largest skal cale we made. they sent a photograph showing their pride. it was an incredible thing to see that. we started to see the first press coverage of the phase one initiation. to see it there being injected into a patient was incredible. to think about the heroes that are helping us bring the vaccine for everyone, for me and my family, too. >> dawn baker is one of the heroes. >> always wear a mask. >> a local news anchor, she spent nine months reporting on how many lives had been lost to co covid-19. >> they were always about the people. in my family, we know nine people who have lost their lives. that was enough for me to do something that would make a change. >> in july, dawn received the first shot of the phase three trial in the u.s. >> we dosed the first patient. >> she was prepared for any possible side effects. but not for negative backlash. >> i did learn about negative comments that black people should not be part of a study like this. i understand there's mistrust of health care and the government because of what has happened to blacks in america. i do also realize that most of us over a certain age, we are alive because of vaccines. at some point, we have to trust something. some of my friends who lost loved ones to covid-19 have reached out and thanked me for what i have done. i want to make sure we're all okay. >> making sure we're all okay, a tremendous sacrifice for our safety. >> it's an enormous responsibility for us. every minute matters ensuring this is done right, we get this vaccine available to everyone that needs it as soon as possible. >> if you want to support front line workers and their communities during this ongoing health care crisis, go to cnnheroes.com. you will see a donate button for the center for disaster philanthropy. they are dedicated to make sure resources go into locations that need them the most in hard times. every little bit counts. >> i want to introduce a doctor on the front lines before covid- covid-19. he received a medal for federal employees. with us tonight, dr. fauci. thanks for being with us. >> thank you very much, anderson. thank you for having me. >> on the scientific front, the fight to understand this virus compared to other pandemics, other viruses that you have worked on, what has it been like? >> well, it's just been rapid fire. we have had this very unusual situation. in its scope and magnitude and its impact is historic in the sense of nothing like this in the last 102 years. all the viruses i have been involved with, i have never seen one that could have such a degree of manifestations from nothing to deadly. the extraordinary capability of it to spread from human to human. i mean, it is highly contagious. we spread in the community by people who don't have symptoms. it really is ganging up on us. >> the wheroic efforts to come p with a vaccine, what has that taught you? >> the thing that has been so unusual in a positive sense is that you have had something done in less than a year that would have taken several years. science has really stepped to the plate and given us something this a record time. >> you have worked with a lot of people that do heroic work. who are your heroes in this? >> you know, anderson, my heroes are clear. my heroes are the front line health care providers, doctors, nurses, putting themselves on the line every single day, risking their own health and their own safety and that of their families to serve the public. to me, they are superheroes. >> how do you cope with this kind of pressure? >> well, anderson, the way i cope is just focus on the enormity of the problem and the mission and the goal that i have is to end this terrible pandemic. when you focus like a laser, all of the other stuff, as stressful as it can be, it becomes peripheral. there's an end to this. you want to be part of that process of ending it. other things, you just don't let it get in the way. >> what do you tell people in this time where the vaccine is in sight but it's not there yet and you can still get infected and you can still get hospitalized and you can still die? many are dying right now. >> you make an extraordinarily important point. a vaccine is literally on the cusp of the threshold. it's here. people are going to be starting getting vaccinated in the next few weeks as we get into mid and late december. now is not the time to get infected. please, take care of yourself. do the public health measures. keep distance. wear masks. avoid crowded situations. do things outdoors more than indoors. simple stuff to protect you and to protect those around you, because it's almost like a war. we are coming to the end, we're coming to the relief. you don't want to be somebody who gets infected because you get careless when help is near and the end is in sight. all the more motivation for people to double down on public health measures. >> dr. fauci, thanks for all the work you and everybody has been doing. thank you. >> thank you very much for having me, anderson. >> throughout the year, there have been a number of moments that brought us joy and inspiration. the last few weeks, you have been telling us which of this year's most inspiring moments is your favorite. here is a look at our first one tonight. following each of them, we will hear from viewers sharing why that particular moment moved them. take a look and enjoy. [ applause ] >> before we never noticed the shift change. we didn't see the health care workers and first responders heading home after a long day. now we do. we celebrated these heroes every night in cities around the world. >> that's so nice. >> everyone in health care, you are my hero. >> beat that drum, ring that bell in celebration of what they do. >> we need more now than ever. >> i'm so grateful for all of those who have put their lives at risk to benefit others. >> they are true heroes that have inspired the world to break out into song. >> no matter any of the circumstances, they keep going back and doing their jobs. >> without them, we wouldn't be here. >> coming up, millie bobby brown, later, our special guest, megh meghan, the duchess. cnn heroes is sponsored by subaru. a national or hometown charity. and subaru and our retailers would proudly make a donation. but now, in times like these, companies are having a hard choice to make. but subaru is more than a car company. and as charities struggle, we cannot just stand by. which is why we plan to donate over twenty four million dollars, again this year. the subaru share the love event, going on now. i was covered from head to toe with it. it really hurt. then i started cosentyx. okay, thanks... that was four years ago. how are you? see me. cosentyx works fast to give you clear skin that can last. real people with psoriasis look and feel better with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms, if your inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, or if you've had a vaccine or plan to. serious allergic reactions may occur. i look and feel better. ask your dermatologist if cosentyx could help you move past the pain of psoriasis. if coit's moving day. and care doing the heavy lifting, jess is busy moving her xfinity internet and tv services. it only takes about a minute. wait, a minute? but what have you been doing for the last two hours? delegating? oh, good one. move your xfinity services without breaking a sweat. now that's simple, easy, awesome. xfinity makes moving easy. go online to transfer your services in about a minute. get started today. welcome back to cnn heroes, an all star tribute. not only are we highlighting inspiring moments, we are recognizing three young people who refused to let challenges get in the way of solving problems and helping those in need. we call them our young wonders. >> before we do that, i just want to show everyone your young wonder. there's wyatt. he is the most beautiful baby ever. he is gorgeous and perfect. i love watching you become a dad. it's been my favorite thing this year. >> been amazing. so cute. >> he wants to come and play. >> i know. very sweet. >> i'm going to go get him. >> no. let's not. >> now here to introduce our first young wonder is one of the stars of "stranger things," millie bobby brown. >> when this pandemic hit, i thought about my family right away. i'm so close to them all. i care about them all so much. kavanaugh bell feels the same way, especially about his grandmother. he adores her. he didn't want her to go out, get food and get sick. so he enlisted his mom to go to the grocery store, buy essentials and deliver them to his grandmother at her senior community. he saw that all of her friends needed help, too. so he took his savings, a little more than $600 and brought them food and supplies. when word spread, the donations and the love for all grandparents poured in. he dreams big, because that's the size of his wise, young heart. >> my grandma is my best friend. when covid happened, i wanted to help her, support her so she's safe. >> they are really close. he befriended most of the senior citizens that lived in her facility. he was aware of who had this problem and that problem. for him, it was that sense of urgency that he understood really early on. >> i used my life savings and made care packs for seniors. >> wonderful. thank you. >> i wanted to make sure they know that they are loved. i have given out more than 600 care packs to senior citizens. >> keep up the good work. >> we started people asking, can we drop out toilet try item ss? we got donations from all over the world. >> that's how i started my own community pantry. look what we got. >> we ended up getting space donated that was in a big parking lot. >> people would just pull up and they would bring the bags. we helped 8,100 people. >> thank you. welcome to pine ridge. >> the summer of 2018, we ended up traveling through pine ridge reservation. >> most of the houses don't even have electricity, running water. i don't think anyone should be living like that. >> one day at the pantry, he is like, remember that reservation? i think now is the time we can help them. >> this is everything going on the trailer. look at this. >> those are all the books we got donated. >> they were really excited. >> i think he gives people that sense that, you don't necessarily know who is out here rooting for you. >> it's good to see you. >> this is the beginning of the journey. he still has many more decades to go. that's the scary part. >> anyone can have impact, no matter their age. >> thank you so much. >> with love, we can get through this together. if we can make this world a better place. >> he is doing such great work. >> how about that? >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> that's so great. what an award. >> tell us about your grandma. what do you love most about her? >> she's a hard worker. when her knee hurts sometimes, and i need her to help me, she always finds a way to help me. that's what i love about my grandma. >> i hear you are starting a new big and littles program? >> yes. big and littles is where we match up kids with senior citizens so senior citizens don't feel lonely. for the holidays, the littles are going to make 100 special care packs for 100 special senior citizens. >> what a great kid. >> what do you recommend? there's a lot of young people that would love to do stuff but don't know how to go about it? what would you recommend? >> well, what i usually say is, whatever you believe, you can achieve. it's up to us kids to create future we deserve. >> thank you for being with us. we wish you the best. >> thank you. >> thanks. wow. >> there are 50 million students in our education system. >> here to talk about how we reimagine school and learning in the face of the pandemic is a champion for alice's kids that provides assistance to children with an immediate need and the star of the netflix special and grammy nominated comedy album "i love everything," here is patton oswald. >> we forget how it started. washington state was the first to close down when a relative of an employee got sick. two days, they wiped down desks, doors and soon other schools began to close. by march 11th, when the world health organization declare aid global pandemic, more than 1 million students were adjusting to remote learning. by march 25th, all schools had shut down. over 50 million bright, hopeful students were now at home. at first, it seemed like an early spring break. as the virus took hold, it took the lives of star teachers, principals, janitors and beloved bus drivers. it was clear that a new dawn for education was upon us with all the old inequities laid bare. how do we feed kids that depend on breakfast and lunch? what about kids who don't have computers or wi-fi, left to walk to a restaurant or school and try to logon in the parking lot? how do we give these kids the things they need every single day? could this be an ultimate educational moment that would teach kindness and sacrifice, creativity and caring? within minutes, teachers, educators and parents, heroes every single one of them, went to work for our kids. take a look. >> what is that? >> a snake. >> distance learning. >> there's a virus going on. no one could be at school. >> for most of us, it was a new idea. for many, it inspired -- >> panic. i just was real anxious about using the technology and how am i going to get it to work? >> for it to work, everyone had to be flexible, not just teachers, but students. >> we don't know how to login, find assignments. >> and parents. >> they couldn't get signed on the first day. he had to go up three times. >> everyone juggled. too many struggled. communities scrambled to get students laptops. the digital divide got deeper. some students sat outside their school for the free wi-fi. two determined sisters resorted to logging on at taco bell. >> the girls went there because they didn't have internet. they wanted to study. >> i came for them. a pack of raisins. >> students in need missed their free school lunches. one teacher delivered them to 80 of his students every day. in four months, he provided more than 7,500 meals. >> welcome to awb. >> many teachers went above and beyond to engage their students. >> just because the world stopped, doesn't mean i'm going to stop. they shouldn't stop. >> matthew introduced his students to his alter ego. >> here he is, the big math man. the big action. he is back for you. today, we will talk about the complimentary angles. >> some teachers dropped by to say hi. >> i miss you. were you confused? we wanted to surprise you. >> others said -- ♪ i'll be here for you ♪ when you are learning at home ♪ ♪ i'll be here for you ♪ and you'll watch me on chrome ♪ >> when school finally reopened, staffers rallied to navigate the new normal. one teacher raised money to buy a sink for her classroom so her students could wash their hands. an alabama principal put his safety guidance to music. ♪ you better pull that mask up ♪ can't touch this ♪ it's the cdc, not me ♪ go wash your hands ♪ you can't touch this >> our traditions looked different -- >> class of 2020 graduation. >> we kept going. >> it meant a lot. it made me feel loved and appreciated. i can't ask for more than that. >> everyone learned about hard work, creativity and resilience. in a year like no other, that is worth celebrating. >> if you want to support our pho educators, go to cnnheroes.com and click on the donate button. there are too many teachers and schools that don't have enough money to do the things that they want for their students. adopting a classroom is a way to get them much needed resources. >> in a few moments, meghan will talk about communities responding to the need for food during the pandemic. now let's look at another one of this year's most inspiring moments. >> this summer, millions of people were willing to risk their lives amid the pandemic by stepping out and stepping up to protest systemic racism. they called for justice and equality everywhere. inspiring a movement of all ages, races, religions and creeds. >> the first three words of the constitution is, we the people. >> no matter what color you are, religion, whether you are old or young, see people all races support -- support the black lives matter movement. >> risking their health to fight for what is right and has always been right. >> gay rights, transs rights. >> not only in the u.s. >> one day we will live in harmony. >> angela bassett celebrates the power of protest. glen close, orlando bloom, cynthia erivo and meghan, the duchess. cnn heroes is sponsored by geico, supporting the military and their families for over 75 years. we're back with cnn heroes. this country was born out of protest. one of the more famous took place on a december night like this when a group of men boarded three ships in boston harbor in protest of taxation without representation. as you know, they empties 432 chests of tea into the water. it was a very radical act. john adams was all for it. george washington, not so much. other protests followed until independence came from britain. >> to talk about this is a proud ambassador, angela bassett. >> back in 1918, there was a convention for the clothing workers in america. people were organizing and trying to create new labor laws. laws like the 40 hour workweek, sick days, holidays, safety precautions, equal pay. still working on that one. not letting children work in dangerous coal mines. extremely important labor laws that continue to protect our workforce today. one of the speakers, nicholas kline, made this point as they were being called radicals and other names as they advocated for the children. he said, first they ignore you. then, they ridicule you. and then they attack you and want to burn you. and then they build monuments to you. that's the flow of protest. think about it. the abolitionist, ridiculed at first and now the abohoabhorenc slavery. the fight was long and hard. now, we are all walking on shattered glass thanks to our vice president-elect. how about rosa parks? she had enough and refused to move from her seat. the montgomery busb boycott launched soon after. when the world saw george floyd on the ground with a knee on his neck, the black lives matter movement was no longer considered on the radical fringe of protest. the claiall for equality was or moral compass. it put us and the heroes among us on the path to building our great and righteous monument to justice. >> this is what change looks like. massive protests, millions in the streets. >> no justice. >> no peace. >> wanting to be heard. >> i can't breathe. >> even amid a threat of a global pandemic. the outrage was about more than one man. the message was simply, black lives matter. >> it made me feel like finally for so long black people have challenged mainstream america to accept us, see us, love us. and this moment, it's been powerful. >> we the jury find george zimmerman not guilty. >> what started in 2013 as a hash tag protesting disregard for black lives catapulted into a global reckoning. >> i definitely felt like the conversation was being forced to shift. we were no longer questioning if racism existed. >> george floyd's brutal death brought people of all races, ages and backgrounds together as never before. >> if it's not george floyd's case, it's that we are living in a different time, under a global pandemic. people are tired. we know that we deserve better. >> at the demonstrations, the vast majority of which were peaceful, many reached out to break down boundaries. >> i know you are out here doing your job. i'm not mad at you. >> my god, he is by himself. >> i want to make this a parade, not a protest. >> we are all here together. >> these moments show the possibility of a new opening of hearts across the country. in washington, d.c., on the evening of june 1 of thst, peac protesters were driven from the white house half an hour before curfew. police blocked off streets. hundreds were on a street in northwest d.c. outside the home of a health care consultant. >> what i saw were people confused. i saw fear. >> they're coming around this car. >> they were trapped on the street trying to get home. >> we were basically like sardines in a box. face to face with that many police officers in riot gear. the hair on my arms was standing up. >> you heard this loud bang. i saw clubs coming out and pepper spray everywhere. all i could do was fling open the door. get in the house! >> i looked over and he was the only person on the street letting people in. >> people came flying in. >> there was 70 people we don't know running into your house. there's a virus going on. he is holding the door open. >> they pepper sprayed into the house. it was chaos. people had milk and water to pour in people's eyes. >> with police outside, raul ended up sheltering 72 protesters, complete strangers, overnight. >> are we okay? if we were to sleep here, is that okay? >> yeah. >> thank you so much. god bless you. >> that was the beauty of what happened that night. everyone got home that morning. >> while the night ended, their connection continued. >> it's time to do the work. >> come over four times a week, talking business, politics. he didn't just open the door once. he opens doors for us every day. >> for me, this was a tragically beautiful gift. prior to june 1st, i put my head in the sand. to see the atrocity show up on your front door, if people like me don't open the door, then really, who will? >> in kentucky, a tattoo artist began covering hate tattoos for free. >> seeing people risk their lives on tv, that moved me greatly. >> since june, the cover the hate campaign has gotten hundreds of responses. they covered up dozens, averaging two to three a week. >> most are old and outdated. just like that ideology. >> growing up, i was never raised to be racist. i was around the wrong people. i wanted to show everyone that i was above them. i look back on it now and i'm ashamed of it. >> look at the design. >> i got two granddaughters. they are mixed. i love my grand babies. i don't want to explain that. >> i was happy drawing it. >> i wanted someone to cover them up. a big chunk of money. it's like a change in life. this is the last step. this man is here to help you to fulfill it. >> that's so cool. >> rock those out in the summer. >> it's a good feeling to get rid of that. one person at a time, one tattoo at a time. >> ready for christmas. >> i was speechless. i'm excited to show my grandkids. thank you very much. appreciate it. >> this is helping people move past their past. >> this is how change happens. >> protest is at the center of how this country has been able to thrive. i believe that everybody has a lane when it comes to being a part of this movement. that's what it's going to take to actually live in a country that believes and proves that black lives matter. >> equal justice initiative is an organization committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in our justice system. support them by clicking on the donate button at cnnheroes.com. >> now, another of this year's most moving and inspiring moments. >> for nearly eight minutes, george floyd pleaded for his life. his death sparked protest against police brutality and racism. after a press conference, his daughter shared a hope for us all. >> daddy changed the world. >> in spite of the brutal killing of george floyd, his daughter was able to rise. >> she's a light in the dark. >> her daddy changed the world. >> he really did. >> this was a wake-up call. >> there's so much injustice that needs to be dealt with. >> if this hadn't happened to george floyd, the world may be the same. >> this generation will not tolerate hate. >> we will not sit back and just allow our lives not to matter ever again. >> next on cnn heroes, meghan the duchess of sussex on communities coming together to address hunger in america and around the world. cnn heroes, an all star tribute is proudly sponsored by humana, a more human way to health care. , say, for colon cancer. humana does you one better and sends you an at-home test kit, when it's overdue. huh! one of those tests could save your life, or at least a little hassle. or both. yeah! you get it, you do it, you send it back. i get it, i do it, i send it back. you get it, you do it, you send it back. yeah, i got it. you got it! ♪ humana. a more human way to healthcare. (voover sixty-four thousand whepets supported. the love, good things happen... over twenty-five hundred wishes granted. over two million meals provided. over four hundred national parks protected. in fact, subaru and our retailers will have proudly donated over two hundred million dollars to national and hometown charities through the subaru share the love event. (vo) get 0% for 63 months and subaru will donate 250 dollars to charity. okay, give it a try. between wisdom and curiosity, there's a bridge. between ideas and inspiration, trauma and treatment. gained a couple of more pounds. that's good for the babies. between the moments that make us who we are, and keeping them safe, private and secure, there's webex. ♪ ♪ beautiful. welcome back. before the pandemic hit, more than 37 million americans experienced food insecurity. more than one-third were children. today, those numbers have grown. reported to be as high as 50 million people, including 18 million children. >> to share how communities have joined together to feed the hungry is the co-founder of arch well, meghan, the duchess of sussex. >> in a year challenging for everyone, i'm inspired by the stories of compassion in our communities. across the country, people have put their own needs aside to come together and support the collective well-being of those around them. back in march, the covid-19 crisis hit hard and overnight everything seemed to change. for many families, the impact of the pandemic has been catastrophic. far too many were faced with a question, how am i going to put food on the table for my family? in the face of this devastating reality, we also saw the power of the human spirit and the remarkable ways that communities respond in challenging times. we saw the good in people, in our neighbors and in communities coming together to say they would not stand by while our neighbors went hungry. we saw communities standing up and taking action. when kids' lunch programs came to a halt, we saw neighbors make sure those children received the nutrition they need. whether those who were immunocompromise exrocompromisee their homes, we showed up to deliver food. we know the value of food. action nourishment, a life source. in moments of crisis, the warmth of a meal can feel as comforting as a hug. especially in the absence of human contact due to the social distancing we are all experiencing. these moments reminded so many that they are cared for. tonight, we are celebrating these quiet heroes. some of whom i know and others that we applaud from afar. these individuals stood up and made sure the most basic needs of our communities were met. they made sure that those around them did not have to suffer in isolation. they nourished their neighbors in more ways than one. they showed us, all of us, that even in the darkest times, when we come together, we have the power to remind someone else that there is hope and that we will be okay. >> let's go, let's go, let's go. >> i have always been able to keep food on the table until the pandemic. >> with traditional resources stretched thin, restaurants, schools, veterans and neighbors all stepped up to feed their communities. michelle brenner was one of them. >> what i love most about cooking is the comfort that i can create for others. >> when the pandemic hit, michelle lost her job. she soon found a new calling. homemade lasagna for anyone for free. >> off i went and been deliv delivering and making. >> she spent her stimulus check on the effort. soon, others donated a commercial kitchen and supplies. >> the cheese mixture, which seems to be the star of the show. >> since april, she survived on unemployment, spending her days cooking for first responders, seniors, busy moms and those struggling to make ends meet. >> this is today's last lasagna. time to deliver. >> all told, she's made and given away nearly 5,000 lasagnas. >> you are so awesome. >> we are here to take care of one another. >> i have almost nothing in my kitchen. this is fantastic. >> it's heavy. >> i'm no longer lasagna lady. i'm okay with them. >> in march -- >> i started to see a rise in fear. people were struggling to fill up their fridge. >> shelly tygielski thought others could lend a hand. she posted two forms online, connecting people that needed help with strangers able to give help. by the next morning -- >> there were over 400 individuals who filled out the form to get help and over 500 people who filled out the form to give help. >> her effort, known as pandemic of love, went viral. within days, susie received help. >> i was blown away. someone just messaged me and said, i can help you. tell me how i can help you. >> now as a volunteer, she digitally matches donors with those in need. >> no more free meals from school. no more free lunch at day care. no more free shift meals at work. i started to worry they were going to actually starve to death at home. >> you won't believe what i have today. >> i'm so excited. >> most donors fill needs virtually, susie delivers donated food to local families every week. >> thanks. >> good job. >> bread and vegetables and fruit and cereal. she's my food angel. >> i feel lucky to have been able to be a conduit to help her. >> see you next time. >> bye. >> it makes me feel like i'm not by myself. >> through pandemic of love, more than 460,000 people have received nearly $50 million of help with food, bills and rent. >> i think what the pandemic tout us is that we may not all be in the same boat, but we are certainly in the same storm. we need each other. >> i love what they are all doing. to support one of the most active organizations in this effort, go to cnnheroes.com and click on the donate button for world central kitchen. >> here to tell us about the work they are doing to fight hunger, one of the founders, chef jose andres. thanks for joining us. talk about what you have been able to do during the pandemic. you have been doing work on this from the beginning. >> anderson, we saw this coming very early. in february, we were feeding people in yokohama. the same thing was happening in oakland, california. we saw this pandemic was going to be a problem. >> you have been working around the country in the united states during this time. you are seeing people who have not been in food lines before. >> we have many people, everyday americans, some of them, many generations, that they are having a hard time because they lost their job. they never got unemployment. all of a sudden, for the first time in their lives, they have to be in line for food bank or for soup kitchen. this is wrong. shouldn't be. the american way, we can do better. we must do better. >> how can somebody watching tonight help feed the hungry? how can somebody get involved? >> you know, one way to feed the hungry is making sure that we make the political will. we the people. we need to remember that america is really in a crisis. it's actually mitch mcconnell's kentucky where 13% of the people say they don't have enough to eat as well as nancy pelosi's california where 11%. this is a problem that shouldn't be happening. why fema is absent in a moment that millions of americans are hungry in the 50 states, those are questions that i would love to get answers. that's why i'm working with great organizations, we have been stepping out. we need to redefine what it means to take care of americans. we can do this the same time we empower the economy. we were able to put 3,000 restaurants on work, empower them to feed local communities, helping the mayor and government. every dollar you spend to feed somebody, you are putting the economy back at work. this is the smart way to do it. >> who are your heroes during this last year? >> i see young people ready to jump in, not caring about who you are, your religion, the color of your skin, what is the accent you have speaking english, that they are only with one goal in mind, to make sure that they can provide aid and relief and hope with a mile. in our case, we hope that through one plate of food at a time, it's that way to show empathy and hope and the beginning of a better tomorrow. >> appreciate it. thanks so much. since 2008, that's 13 lucky years, no organization has been a greater supporter of cnn heroes than subaru. their philanthropic efforts have helped so many. welcome tom dahl, the president and chief executive officer for subaru. >> thank you. welcome, everybody. being honest, 2020 is a year that probably a lot of us would like to forget. i believe it's been given to us to help us understand what's truly important. that's our families and fellow citizens of our great country who need help. each of the charity organizations highlighted tonight are demonstrating how they are helping. subaru is doing our part in helping others by investing in our share the love event. by the end of 2020, we will have given over $200 million to both national and local charities all around the country. tonight, we are here to not only pay tribute to the charity organizations but to assist them in continuing their great work of helping others. that, my dear friends, takes money. please, join subaru in donating to tonight's charity organizations. if you do, we will match their donations up to a total of $500,000. we know firsthand that helping others creates love. love always triumphs. help us share the love by donating at cnnheroes.com. thank you very much. >> coming up, jeffrey wright honors heroes upholding democracy. later, we will reveal your choice for this year's most inspiring moment. an unforgettable performance by cynthia erivo. we are back with cnn heroes. know that subaru is matching your donations to all of the organizations tonight. if you can give, go to cnnheroes.com and click on the donate button. >> in the face of a pandemic, americans turned out in record numbers during the election. the right to vote wasn't always available to all americans. it began with white male landowners. through battles and the civil war, the 1924 indian citizenship act and the civil rights movements, we added laws to ensure all citizens can exercise this fundamental right. >> here to showcase some of the heroes who worked to secure that right today is one of the founders of brooklyn for life, which is feeding front line workers and helping small businesses during the pandemic. one of the stars of "the batman if the if t batman," welcome jeffrey wright. >> democracy can be fridagile. each and every time it's hanging by a thread, the most powerful, miraculous and awe inspiring thing happens, people vote. they mail in their ballots. they stand in the rain. they think about their dreams and their hopes for their kids and families. i voted this year with my son. his first time. he exited our polling place to applause. americans wait for hours to lend their voice to the chorus of this magnificent country. they wait sometimes for days for their votes to be counted. it's a solemn and sacred right. when there are barriers built who limit who can and cannot show up, whose vote will or will not be counted, we need leaders who will not be moved. who will do whatever it required to knock down those barriers, who will shout from mountaintops that everyone who is able owns the power of the vote. who will teach the younger generations to get into good trouble for the cause and how to fight for the rights of all, even until their final hours on this earth. this year, of all years, we lost one of those leaders. congressman john lewis. because of his work, his love of our fragile democracy, his insistence that it be as described in the words that frame it and because of the legacy passed down to countless new young leaders, we still insist and we march, we organize with our eyes forever fixed on the promise of america. >> we are seeing record numbers of people. >> in 2020 voters made their voices heard on a massive scale. despite the threat of the pandemic. >> there you go. >> awesome. >> it was in many ways a celebration of democracy. after the election, the president refusing to accept the outcome, americans defended the democratic process. on the streets, online. >> how dare you try to silence the voice of the citizens. >> in local government. >> we had you not attempt to exercise power we simply don't have. >> an appeals court -- >> in court, chris krebs was in charge of securing the election. he insisted there had been no fraud. he was fired. he praised others like georgia's secretary of state for standing their ground on "60 minutes." >> he put country before party in his holding a free and fair election in that state. there's some real heroes out there, real patriots. >> some have spend their lives pushing for democracy, like congressman john lewis, who led a peaceful march for voting write rights in alabama, known as bloody sunday. the event ultimately helped pass the landmark voting rights act of 1965. in july, his death was mourned as the end of an era. >> this is our moment, this is our time, and it's right now. >> a new generation has continued his fight. >> we want peace. >> veteran december monday meade is a voting right s advocate. he struggled with addiction and went to prison. >> i lost the right to vote. >> a relic of the jim crow era, by 2016, the law was disenfranchising more than 1.4 million floridians. he decided that had to change. >> all across this state, there are people who are yearning to are their voices heard. >> neil voles, a republican, got involved. >> it's bigger than right or left or red versus blue. it's about humanity. >> they started a campaign to restore voting rights to returning citizens who completed their sentences. >> it's about real american citizens that did something wrong, that paid the price and deserve the opportunity to participate in our democracy. >> let my people vote today. >> in november 2018, amendment 4 passed with more than 60% of the vote. >> we were able to get people from all walks of life to say yes. it's in those moments we are beautiful as a country. >> months later, a new state law required returning citizens to pay all legal fines and fees before they could register to vote. a big obstacle for nearly 775,000 people. >> no floridian should be forced to choose between paying their rent or voting. >> the issue is still in court. desmond's non-profit, the florida rights restoration coalition, has set up a hotline. raised $27 million to help people pay their debt and register to vote. >> welcome back to democracy. good to have you back. >> what's up? >> this fall, desmond crisscrossed florida, a cheerleader for democracy. >> this is what community looks like. >> i don't think there's a better ee vang livangelist. >> all my life. >> it was his first time voting in a presidential election. >> i'm grateful to be able to participate in democracy. it should be experienced by everybody. >> more than 50,000 returning citizens finally got that same chance. >> voting is something that's higher than politics. i think it really is. this is about human dignity. >> the country lost ruth bader ginsburg. when the court overturned many of the 1965 voting rights act, ginsburg felt so strongly that the decision would lead to increased voter suppression that she read her dissent in full from the bench. democracy depends on citizens being engaged in the process and free and fair elections. this past one saw record voter turnout. >> if you go to cnnheroes.com, click on donate for issue voter, this is a non-partisan online platform that allows you to support or oppose new laws. it encourages you to share your views with your representatives, keeps track of their voting record and ensures that your voice continues to be heard. we will be right back. >> next, one of our young wonders. a message from mother nature. a special performance by cynthia erivo. cnn heroes, an all star tribute is proudly sponsored by novatris. it was kind of a shock after i started cosentyx. i'm still clear, five years now. cosentyx works fast to give you clear skin that can last. real people with psoriasis look and feel better with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an 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back. >> here to share her story is a change agent, one of the co-founders of seven sun productions and the star of "grownish." >> here is what young people know. young black, brown, indigenous, asian, queer and every other beautiful and powerful intersection. we know injustice surrounds us. we're not going to be quiet any longer. because when you can lose your life for wearing a hoodie, for jogging, driving, walking, eating, sleeping, change isn't only necessary, it's the air we need to breathe new life into our futures. that's why this time, after george floyd felt that knee on his neck, tiana day and her 17 years of witness done acted. she drew on the strength of her ancestors and helped organize her first protest. tiana thought maybe 50 people would show. that june day, thousands marched for miles and for change in the glow and glory of the golden gate bridge. >> there's no better place to do a protest than the golden gate. this is the gap of inequality. i just graduated high school. i saw the viral video of george floyd's death. i just felt this feeling of, i have all this fire in me. i had to do something. i was going through my instagram feed. i see this girl who is like, we're going to have a protest on the golden gate bridge. we don't have a leader from the black community. i will lead your protest. she's like, you know it's tomorrow, right? i made a little flyer. i posted it on social media. the permit she obtained was for 50 to 300 people. that day, thousands of people showed up. >> black lives matter. >> to march in solidarity. >> no justice, no peace. no justice, no peace. >> there were people of all backgrounds. it was really just a day where i felt so much love in the air. >> i was elated that so many people felt empowered to take to the streets. i was like, wow, we just went viral. >> i grew up in california. i felt singled out being one of the only black girls in this area. my dad grew up where police brutality is normal. we know we are the generation of change. my dad said, he remind me like myself when i was younger. he was telling me, when i was your age, i was active in the rodney king movement. >> my dad was an activist. he was a member of the black panther party. it was a part of who we are inside. >> for me to hear that, i was like, whoa. it's generational. the first sign i made. after the golden gate bridge protest, i remember being like, how can i make a change in the world? what do we want? >> justice. >> when do we want it? >> now. >> i founded youth advocates for change. our mission is to amplify youth voices and inspire local action. >> black lives matter! >> i have led seven protests. >> i have seen her finally find her calling in life. when you have a fire that's lit inside of you, there's nothing that can slow you down or stop you. >> we need to see the world differently. we need to love each other. i have this platform now to help people who feel the same way that i do. it's changed my life forever. >> amazing. >> incredible. >> tiana joins us now. congratulations. >> thank you so much. >> we are happy to meet it. what did it feel like to have all those people march with you that day? >> it was indescribable. speechless every time i talk about it. i had never done anything like that. i had never led a march. i had never been involved in activism. now it's, like i said, changed my life forever. >> tell us about the black youth scholarship fund you started. >> within my non-profit, youth advocates for change, we created a scholarship fund to help black students go to college. so far, we raised $25,000. our fund continues to grow every day. it's amazing. it's incredible. i can't believe that we gained this much support in six months. >> she's so -- you are so impressive. what's your hope for 2021? >> my hope for 2021 is for my non-profit to grow. right now, we have over 50 students working with us. we have four different chapters in different states. in six months, we have accomplished so many things. i'm so excited for what the future is going to bring, including the podcast where we talk about education and how we can diversify and make it more inclusive to all students. >> wow. >> it's great to meet you. thanks forral you are all you >> let's talk about another topic that young people really care about. the climate crisis. when it comes to the environment, one thing is clear, mother nature is pissed at all of us about the damage we're doing to our planet. >> joining us now a champion for feeding america. released a christmas album. leslie odom junior. >> this year, we had so many storms that we ran out of hurricane names and had to turn to the greek alphabet. not always a great sign. our communities are cleaning up and rebuilding. many living in hotels and temporary housing. here is why. our storms are changing. a recent report from japan studied the major hurricanes that made landfall in the u.s. from 1967 to 2018. what they discovered was, 50 years ago, storms would lose most of their power within hours of hitting land. but today, because of the climate crisis, storms now remain powerful for nearly twice as long. look at the fires that happened this year. remember the sky? the darkness at high noon, the masks needed to breathe, not just protect. how about the extreme drought in the northeast? the mass extinction of wildlife, the inequities climate change causes such as lack of access to clean water. all of it is daunting. it will get worse if we do nothing. here is hope. when the world shut down for two months, mother nature took a deep breath and showed us that all was not lost. there was a way to heal. ♪ >> this past spring, high above the earth, satellites began capturing the promise of what could be if we take better care of our planet. nasa scientists took notice. >> as soon as we saw numerous economies go on lockdown and people change their behavior because of covid-19, we started to see drops in air pollution. we can see that from satellites. there was reductions in nitrogen dioxide across a number of cities. >> you could hear birds in new york city. the sky looked clearer and more blue in years. clearer skies make the himalayas more visible. the absence of boats in venice allowed the murky waters to settle, revealing life below the surface. around the world, wild animals were spotted roaming streets, reclaiming habitats where they once freely thrived. for many, the glimpse of a cl n cleaner world between mankind and nature was a makeup call. for others, a call to action. to tackle our climate crisis and its affects head on. perhaps it offers lessons for the world we can rebuild together, starting now. >> when it comes to climate change, we can reduce the amount of travel we do. the amount of driving. we can make sure our homes are as energy efficient as possible. if we get together and change our activity, that can change the trajectory of the planet. >> young climate activists are already paving the future path with their work to protect the planet. >> no one is too small to make a difference. >> if you want to do something to help, go to cnnheroes.com. click on the donate button for water.org. it helped change the lives of people all over the world by bringing safe water and sanitation. >> now let's have a look at another one of this year's most inspiring moments. >> in florence, people sang the italian national anthem. in chicago, they countered sorrow with "living on a prayer." ♪ living on a prayer >> a broadway legend serenaded us from his balcony. all over the world, we found a way to lift each other up and connect through the power of music. >> music is a healing force of the world. >> music is a reflection of nature. it's the heartbeat. >> music calms the anger, the fear, the uncertainty. >> music is a respite during the pandemic. >> healing power of music cannot be overhe wiemphasized. >> it's joy and happiness and celebration. >> escape. >> music is a powerful force. >> kudos to the music makers of the world. >> glen close and later orlando bloom and a performance by cynthia erivo. cnn heroes, an all star tribute is brought to you by cisco, the bridge to possible. between ideas and inspiration, trauma and treatment. gained a couple of more pounds. that's good for the babies. between the moments that make us who we are, and keeping them safe, private and secure, there's webex. ♪ ♪ beautiful. ((boy)r) hhelping kids.s. (dad) helping families. (women) helping pets. (vo) these are the lives subaru retailers have impacted in our communities, through our support of over fourteen hundred hometown charities. in fact, subaru and our retailers will have proudly donated over two hundred million dollars to national and hometown charities through the subaru share the love event. (vo) get 0% for 63 months and subaru will donate 250 dollars to charity. five blades and a pivotingglide flexball designed to get virtually every hair on the first stroke, while washing away dirt and oil. so you're ready for the day with a clean shave and a clean face. ♪ i'll be home for christmas ♪ if only in my dreams ♪ over the summer, the centers for disease control issued a study measuring the cost of the pandemic on our mental health. the numbers are staggering. it's clear people are suffering. >> here to introduce us to some cnn heroes who are trying to help people confront this grief and loss and trauma is a champion for mental health. ten years ago, she co-founded bring change to mind with her sister who lives with bipolar disorder to increase awareness and end the stigma. one of the stars of the new film "hillbilly he wieligy," glenn c >> even though we are keeping our distance in order to keep one another safe, we are still profoundly connected, locked together, because we are all living in a world filled with grief and loss. millions feel of sorrow that comes from losing their job, their sense of purpose in the community. health care workers and first responders are carrying mountains of trauma. students all across this country long for their old lives, to play together, to learn together and to rejoice together. countless black men, women and children are filled with despair and anxiety, not knowing if they will be harmed because of the color of their skin, if loved ones will return home at the end of each day. these days are wreaking havoc on our mental health. our brains are complicated and fragile 3 1/2 pound organs of wonder. they need care. especially in hard times. one of the greatest things we can do is talk about our pain. get rid of the stigma, seek help. maybe even adopt. the more we do, the more we see that we aren't alone, but locked together, doing our best, to make our way toward that brighter day ahead. >> there's a pandemic of grief right now. human beings, we grieve all types of loss. it's absolutely essential to give ourselves permission to grieve. >> two cnn heroes have spent decades teaching children and families how to cope with grief. now their work offers lessons for all of us. >> our job is to really give an opportunity to people to talk, to express feelings. >> it won't be very bad. >> what have you learned from this loss? >> life is precious. time limited. >> months into the pandemic, i see people struggling even harder now. mental health is a real concern. so much anxiety, fear, sadness as well as the isolation. people are grieving, and no one should grieve alone. >> you guys are live. >> inhale and exhale. do that a couple of times. do it from your toenail up to the last strand of hair on your head. >> we are still here. our lives matter. >> yes. >> recognizing the pain, whether from the pandemic or racial injustice is where the healing begins. >> an important part of helping people to heal is recognizing their traumatic experiences, police brutality, injustices, discrimination. it's like a domino affect. we do internalize and suffer as a result of these wounds. >> it can be violent. it can be constructive. but moving our pain towards our passion can be an opportunity for growth. >> when we are grieving and having all kinds of feelings, know that that's not something you are going to have forever. there are things we can do to support ourselves. >> my main man. >> to have a pet is so therapeutic right now. >> releasing of those endorphins relaxes our body and calms our spirit. >> move your body. get physical. be out in nature. it's really good for our brain functioning and for reducing stress. >> connecting with others is a crucial component of our own well-being. >> social isolation has had a devastating affect on the mental and emotional health of the elderly. ♪ >> there is a weapon against cognitive decline. music. scientifically proven to improve brain and motor function. ♪ don't take my sunshine away >> music can connect people, sharpen minds and restore memories. ultimately, bringing us back to our joy. ♪ >> oh, my god. where is my kleenex? >> this is such important work. if you need help, please ask for it. call the hotline below, reach out to professionals and know that you are not alone. and we can all help by etch pxpg access and ending the stigma. click on the donate button for bring change to mind. >> those who are struggling need organizations that serve others more than ever. we are glad to partner with the annenberg foundfoundation. they provide training programs for free. they will continue their partnership by offering virtually a special training for all the top ten heroes from the past eight years, specifically designed to make sure that our heroes have the tools to weather this economic storm. they are part of the foundation's signature capacity building program that's been offered for free to more than 3,000 non-profits in california. >> that's fantastic. it will do so much good. now, let's bring a little bit more hope to our lives. here is another of this year's most inspiring moments. >> when the call rang out for ppe to keep our front line workers safe, americans responded with great generosity. the workers here did something extraordinary. they moved in and quarantined in two of their manufacturing plants for nearly a month to get the job done. >> there's the team. the boys. >> i witnessed a lot of stuff with covid in emergency rooms and a lot of ppe that was low. >> this group of people went out of their way and they didn't have to do this. >> these guys went the extra mile to stay there for a month to make sure the hospitals and businesses had their gloves, ppe. >> shows how unselfish people are. >> they brought out what the country is. >> i respect what you do every d day. thank you very much. >> coming up, a young wonder. orlando bloom honors the artist who kept us entertained during lockdown. 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♪ ♪ heart monitors that let your doctor watch over you, just like you watch over your best friend. another life-changing technology from abbott, so you don't wait for life. you live it. welcome back. our final young wonder is a first. i don't think we have ever honored a young person who can do what he can. >> to tell us his story, welcome a proud supporter of amazon watch and one of the stars of "stranger things," fin wolfheart. >> if you are thinking you can't do anything to help out during this crisis, you are wrong. we have all got something we can do. simple stuff like thanking front line workers or donating food. some of us know how to fly a plane at the age of 16 like tj kim. he saw that many hospitals in rural areas weren't getting enough mass kmasks, gloves and equipment. he set out on the most extraordinary mission. >> ever since i was 9, i wanted to become a navy pilot. it's been my childhood dream. being able to join a flight school and pursue my dream of flying has been amazing. once everything started to shut down, like school, my lacrosse season, flight training was one of the things i had left. i talked with my dad. we came up with the idea of operation sos. we donate face masks, shields, eye goggles, shoe coverings, full gown covering and more recently ventilator supplies to rural hospitals. >> i'm tj's primary instructor. when he came to me with the idea, i was taken aback. to see such a young person be so selfless is just an awesome feeling. a lot of the rural areas have smaller airports. a bit more challenging because of runways that aren't as long. they are not as wide. not typically what we would train in. he has done really well with that. he has such a bright future. >> the initial glooal was to goo each of the seven hospitals in virginia. i'm on flight 18. i surpassed that. >> how was your flight? >> i'm up to 63,300 deliveries. >> today was an exciting day. it's not often we get supplies delivered via student pilot. thank you. >> compared to the big city hospitals where everyone wants to donate, the rural hospitals feel left out sometimes. >> appreciate all your effort. seeing how happy it makes them, that someone cared about them and reached out to them, that really is what makes the operation sos worth it. as long as the pandemic is going on, they are putting themselves in danger. they are in need of supplies. i need to keep supplying them. >> awesome. >> incredible. >> tj kim joins us. congratulations. >> thank you so much on this award. i'm honored to be here. >> fabulous. >> you deserve it. i expanded into another state, to west virginia. how did you pick that? >> i wanted to go out to west virginia, especially because they are one of the hardest hit states when it comes to covid cases across america. they have a lot of rural communities i wanted to reach out to and serve. i went out to a hospital in phillip high. they are crushed by covid. they told me my delivery would sly them four to six weeks. to go out to small communities is what made me want to go out to west virginia. >> we understand that you want to be a navy pilot. is that right? >> yes, ma'am. that would be correct. >> do you want to go to the naval academy? >> yes, sir. that's been my dream ever since i was 9 years owed. i wanted to be a navy pilot. working toward that and recently being able to learn how to fly and pursue pilot's license has been great in getting me toward that. >> it's amazing all the work you are doing. thank you. >> thank you for having me. >> thanks, tj. >> our next presenter will remind us how much art played a role in helping us get through. >> please welcome orlando bloom. >> when it hit, we were all scared, uncertain about how things would unfold. one thing we realized right away was that countless people would need help. help with the basics like food, shelter and health care. they would need support to keep family businesses open. artists were struggling, too. theaters were locked. galleries shut. concerts and productions canceled. they would all need assistance. so artists in every field rallied to raise awareness and hundreds of millions of dollars to care for those struggling. that need continues and so does the need for a little respite from the relentless difficulties of this pandemic. so artists organized to do that, too. our favorite characters from films and tv shows held reunions and scripted readings to bring a little joy to all of our lives. djs held online dance parties and hip hop battles so we could let our hair down a little. aunle authors and poets gave us their words, musicians and dancers filled our neighborhood streets to help us pause. sidewalks and driveways came to life with colorful messages of hope. art did what it is supposed to do. it united, comforted and brought us together in the name of a common humanity, in the name of love. >> art may have been deemed non-essential as the world locked down, but for so many it remaybe emained ee eed fundamen. >> i wasn't with my kids. i was trying to stay connected. i was scared, like most people in the world. i sat at the counter and i started playing songs into my phone. i would share stories. people started to feel connected. they were pretending they were in a club. >> d-nice's instagram lives were dubbed club quarantine. the music he played was part of the draw. everything from sister sledge to usher. >> i played a lot of old school songs that would kind of just take people back to a peaceful place in life. i was giving something to people that they didn't know they really needed. they needed to dance with their family in the living room. they talk about how what i did saved them. i also want people to know that what they did for me saved me as well. >> quarantine forced tv and movie production to shut down. as we learned, a lot can be done from home. an actor brought together cast and crews from classic movies as part of his series, reunited apart. >> hey, you guys. >> beloved cast from "30 rock," "parks & rec" and "father of the bride," as well as other big stars staged virtual reunions and table reads. not only did the specials give us joy and a break from reality, they raised funds and awareness for important causes. from his living room -- >> good evening. >> kra web series that shared positive stories. >> class of 2020, what is up? >> celebrated the class of 2020. >> happy graduation! >> happy graduation! ♪ my name is alexander hamilton ♪ there's a million things i haven't done ♪ >> during the darkest of times, you can always find something to smile about, even in our own front yard. ♪ happy birthday to you >> there's no organization like make a wish america. children who are battling diseases have an opportunity to look outside their illness and have joy in their life. in reach out to their favorite artists who time and time again provide much needed joy to them and their families. to support them, go to c cnnheroes.com and click on the donate page. >> we will show you the moment you chose at this year's most inspiring. >> that moment is extraordinary. it gives me goose bumps. we'll be right back. >> next, your choice for this year's most inspiring moment. and cynthia erivo salutes all of this year's heroes. the 14th annual cnn heroes, an all star tribute is sponsored by subaru, proudly matching every dollar donated to cnn heroes' featured organizations. oose a national or hometown charity. and subaru and our retailers would proudly make a donation. but now, in times like these, companies are having a hard choice to make. but subaru is more than a car company. and as charities struggle, we cannot just stand by. which is why we plan to donate over twenty four million dollars, again this year. the subaru share the love event, going on now. women with metastatic we breast cancer.rs. our time... ...for more time... ...has come. living longer is possible- and proven in postmenopausal women taking kisqali plus fulvestrant. in a clinical trial, 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starting at $15 a month, or get the lowest price for one line of unlimited. come into your local xfinity store to make the most of your mobile experience. you can shop the latest phones, bring your own device, or trade in for extra savings. stop in or book an appointment to shop safely with peace of mind at your local xfinity store. so i take garlique to help maintain healthy cholesterol safely and naturally. and it's odor free. i'm taking charge of my cholesterol with garlique. welcome back to cnn heroes. in just a moment we'll hear a powerful performance from the amaze go cynthia arivo. >> we've been showing the most inspiring moments and you've been voting and telling us why you chose each moment. now let's take a look at your favorite. sometimes a photograph can capture the mood and the attention of the world. in june, one image did just that. during protests on the streets in london, events turned violent. black lives matter was there to condemn statues and many were there to protect the statues. one man, a white former police officer, wandered into the crowd and he started to get beat up. one of the black lives matter protesters saw that he was in peril. patrick moved in, picked up the injured person, carried him through the crowd to safety. >> the biggest thing for me was making sure no harm came to him. i knew if harm came to him the narrative would be changed and the blame would fall on the young black lives matter protesters. we made sure we got him out safely. >> reporter: patrick, a father and grandfather, sees the ill an and understands the idea to do the right thing resides in all of us. >> we just want equality for all races, all people. right now we're the ones who seem to be the on pressed ones. bits time things changed the world over. >> patrick, you are the best of humanity. >> i'm just proud that he did help lifting someone up. not holding them down. >> i have three sons and i pray that they grow up to be like that man. >> just disregard all inferences and he regarded human life. >> a reminder of how powerful love is. >> this man showed that humanity prevails no matter what. >> here with the song to raise all our spirit. the foundation, two bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, especially black women and girls. >> she has a debut album coming out in 2021 and a new single set for spring and she was just nominated for another grammy award. that's right. her voice is simply divine. performing david bowie's classic and stirring heroes. here is cynthia arivo. ♪ i, i will be queen ♪ and you, you, you will be king ♪ ♪ though nothing will drive them away ♪ ♪ we can beat them just for one day ♪ ♪ we can be heroes just for one day ♪ ♪ and you, you, you can be mean ♪ ♪ and i, i, i'll drink all the time ♪ ♪ because we're lovers and that's a fact ♪ ♪ yes we're lovers, yeah, and that is it ♪ ♪ though nothing will keep us together, yeah ♪ ♪ we can steal time just for one day ♪ ♪ we can be heroes forever and ever ♪ ♪ and i, i will be queen ♪ ♪ and you, you will be king ♪ though nothing, nothing will drive it away ♪ ♪ we can be heroes just for one day ♪ ♪ we can be for just one day ♪ we can be heroes snin we can be heroes ♪ ♪ we can be heroes just for one day ♪ ♪ we can be heroes just for one day ♪ ♪ >> she's fabulous. well, thank you for spending this time with us tonight. we know that times are tough. if you can, support the organizations we talked about. go to cnn heroes.com. >> and next year, thanks to the he was of so many heroes in the medical and scientific community, we expect to be back underneath the belly of the whale. until then, stay safe and wear a mask. if you know someone doing extraordinary work, you can nominate them to be a cnn hero right now. we home some of these stories have inspired you to do your part because you too can be somebody's hero. ♪ -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com it's one of the fastest growing groups in the country. >> hey, how are you doing? >> thanks for coming. >> you want bacon? >> sure. >> people from all walks of life, young and old, coming together to support