Thursday, November 26, 2009

CNN Heroes

I watched CNN Heroes and I must confess that watching some of those people's stories, did inspire a tear or two to spring to my eyes. My friend said that I am supposedly getting soft on her, and maybe she is right. I mean like...these people are nothing short of AMAZING.
There was a school bus driver in NYC who gets off work at 5pm every day, and then he and his family start their 2nd job which is full time cooking 365 days a week for about 140 homeless people in Queens, NY. He has 6 fridges in his house to store all the food stuff, and his retired mom who could be resting her feet and enjoying her days of no work and a hopefully nice pension chooses to stand on her feet instead and join in the cooking. One of the most touching things about his speech was when he pointed out that his sister (who didn't make the awards) stayed behind in Queens, NY so that the homeless men and women would not go hungry for even one night. That was my ultimate CNN hero of 2009.

There was a pilot who along with the support of his wife and 3 kids started an orphanage in Indonesia to provide shelter, comfort, education and food to abandoned babies/motherless babies/refugees.

There was a man who provides wheelchairs to disabled children in IraQ. You could just see the hope and gratefulness that these children and their families feel when they receive the wheelchairs.

There was a woman from Zimbabwe who was raped as a young child, and now provides hope and a helping hand to Zimbabwean victims of rape and abuse.

Among others...

I mean, I was watching and I was truly like WOW. These are regular and ordinary people like me and you, who are doing inspiring things. I know that I may not wake up tomorrow with a dream for a cause but I'm definitely filled with the urge to support, support, support.
I was happy to know that each of the nominated heroes will receive a 25k grant, and the Hero of the year received an additional 100k grant...all to support their causes.

More info on the heroes can be found here:CNN Heroes

And if you can, please do donate, support and make your own little (or big) mark in the world. :-)

25 comments:

iphyigbogurl said...

...i watched it too.... actually cried... :)...but it was a good cry...:)

some people have really good hearts....God bless them!!!!

TayneMent said...

Didn't get too watch, but I just got reminded to do/start something I have had in mind.

Azazel said...

Wish we had more ppl like that, the world would definitely be a better place. All it tkes is the willingness to sacrifice.

ShonaVixen said...

I know of the Zimbabwean woman - Betty Makoni (do some work with her charity) and yes she's a very remarkable woman!

Afrobabe said...

A young girl of 21 came to my church and talked about her work..she is a missionary, she started a programme that cares for hiv positive families…she shares food,clothes and toys..all donated to them..she has 80 volunteers and needs more, she needs people who will visit the families and take the kids out for a while to give the parents a little breathing space and some colour to the kids lives..

I was so inspired after the presentation that I volunteered…babe, after signing up, to go became serious problem oh…It seemed to clash with every other thing I needed to do. I quietly stopped answering my phone..

So yes, for people who can actually do it…kudos..they are big heroes, its not easy...

Anonymous said...

It gives me joy to see people who do things like this just because they can...
:)
xoxo

Ms.O said...

I watched too and was very touched in so many ways to do the little I can to help and support. If we all helped little by little, I really believe we could all effect change in our respective communities. Anywayzzzzzzzzzzz...Have a fab weekend!

leggy said...

i read your post and so searched for the videos on the cnn websites to watch. i cant help but wonder on their strength.wow

Isabella said...

LMAO @ Afrobabe I loved your honesty because seriously being a hero is not easy!

I have been hearing baout this, I hope to wach it.

God Bless those people

histreasure said...

ordinary people doing extraordinary things.. it's awesome..

chayomao said...

i Missed it!

watching CNN heroes always feels me with the need to do more in the world.

Grateful for such reminders.

Myne said...

I didn't watch it but reading this, I'll go check out the website. I know I'm doing my bit but I always applaud those doing it on a bigger scale and need their inspiration to do more...

miss.fab said...

Amazing amazing amazing!

Miss Definitely Maybe said...

they are a true inspiration in this selfish world where we only think of ourselves and what we want

Random One said...

Didn't get to see it but i always marvel when i hear/read/see regular people doing outstanding extraordinary things and it makes me wonder if they have 2 heads or which kind of heart God gave them that me i don't have. They leave me slightly depressed if i am to be honest.

Its great! God bless them richly.

Anoda Phase said...

waoh! that's so awesomely inspiring...it's definitely wot I hope to be doing big time sometime in the near future - GIVE! GIVE! GIVE!

mizchif said...

I watched it to, and it wasn't a tear or two, i had a good cry.

I think i remember the bus driver's name even Jorge Nunez, he's my own hero too. A common bus driver, yet making such a HUGE difference. Just watching him i was in awe, he really made me think small but mighty (considering his height)

He's a bus driver, so he can't possibly be earning much, he has his own family to take care of, he's an immigrant so i'm sure he must've suffered a lot of discrimination, but in spite of al the odds, he's making a positive difference, which is more than a lot of us can say.

Watching that show made me believe that there are angels amongst us truly.

Anonymous said...

goes to show that we can often not choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond.. and that is what defines us.

bonnie said...

too inspiring.

Nice Anon said...

It always touches the heart when you see people do some good. I didn't watch it but it is always nice to know that we have people like that out there in the world. Now if only one of them Dubai sheiks will adopt me as a charity case. LOL

Treasure said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I didn't get to watch it this year - seriously missed it. I watched last year's. Those pple are really making a huge difference in the lives of the underprivileged in the world. CNN is doing well by honouring these pple thereby encouraging a lot more to start a program or even support organisations who are already on the cause.

SouLBoutiQue said...

Not a day goes by that I think of ways in which I will give back to those less fortunate. Working at Martha's Table was my start, but I wanna take things to another level, I haven't yet figured it out but I know God will lead me towards it...not a CNN Hero but a silent one, ya get me?! I hope you're well....
Ag

Rayo said...

those stories are so inspiring...

Enkay said...

Goes to show that there's really some good in this world.