CNN Heroes Backstage live blog

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CNN Heroes Backstage live blog

The top 10 CNN Heroes of the year were honored December 2 during a star-studded gala at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. See how the night unfolded, from the red carpet arrivals to the much-anticipated announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year.

Blog curated by Steve Krakauer, Kyle Almond and Dorrine Mendoza, with help from JD Cargill on the red carpet.

Just saw freakin Myles Kennedy in my hotel. Was gonna say hi but was checking in dang

by Phillip Phillips via twitter 12/3/2012 3:21:24 AM
Wanda Butts is a member from my church home in Toledo. She has turned a true tragedy into a blessing to thousands. #cnn #cnnheroes Photo by @charlie1913
by dorrine.mendoza on Dec 2, 2012 at 10:15 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:21:44 AM
not too late to tune into #CNNHeroes. Just have tissues ready.

by Jack Gray via twitter 12/3/2012 3:21:50 AM
Now up is Cullen Jones, Olympian swimmer. That story about his dedication to teaching kids to learn how to swim? Here's more about it.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:22:12 AM
From Bill Dunmire, on Top Ten Hero Leo McCarthy, Most people not from Butte think "butte tough" is a term made up by alot of wannabe rocky balboa's, but nothing could be farther from the truth. "BUTTTE TOUGH" is about being able to fight through all kinds of adversity that life may throw at you and staring it straight in the eye and say "not today". Leo Mccarthy is the toughest Butte guy i know. And thanks to him our comunity is a safer place to live in. Tonite the world will find out what "BUTTE TOUGH" is. Best of luck my friend you are a true heroBrian LaDueDec 2, 2012 at 10:21 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:22:33 AM
Watching #CNNHeroes feeling woefully under-aware of all of these areas of need. Thinking I should make making a difference a priority in '13

by Lori1981 via twitter 12/3/2012 3:23:17 AM
Blessed and honored. #CNNheroes #phoenixmultisport @ Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall instagr.am/p/SwlA9PpB77/

by ScottAStrode via twitter 12/3/2012 3:24:24 AM
...@50cent and @neyocompund backstage right now at the #cnnheroes awards... Photo by @antimodel
by dorrine.mendoza on Dec 2, 2012 at 10:24 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:24:58 AM
Did you know ... According to USA Swimming, 70% of African-American children cannot swim, compared with nearly 60% of Hispanic children and 42% of white children. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African-American children between the ages of 5 and 14 are three times more likely to drown than white children in the same age range.

These are statistics that CNN Hero Wanda Butts and Cullen Jones are trying to change, child by child.

by Kyle Almond, CNN edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:25:02 AM
Wow - Cullen Jones just put his gold medal on Wanda Butts. Watch her speech live now on CNN.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:25:23 AM
After Wanda Butts lost her son to a tragic drowning accident, she turned her grief into a mission to save lives. #CNNHeroes

by Anderson Cooper 360° via twitter 12/3/2012 3:25:55 AM
Watching #CNNHeroes always reminds me that God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things!

by antjuansea via twitter 12/3/2012 3:26:36 AM
Rico Rodriguez from "Modern Family" is up now presenting the latest Young Wonder award. His charity work focuses on children of well - some details here.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:26:52 AM
Next Sunday would have been the 23rd birthday of Wanda Butts' son. "Happy birthday, Josh," she says. "I love you."

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:27:13 AM
Young Wonder Cassandra Lin is changing the world -- one french fry at a time. Four years ago, at the age of 10, she decided she wanted to do something for the environment and help the less fortunate in her Rhode Island community. She gathered her friends and created Project TGIF -- Turning Grease Into Fuel. The organization collects used cooking oil from restaurants and homes, refines it, and then distributes a percentage of it to families who can't afford to heat their homes.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:27:51 AM
So far, Lin and her team have collected 130,000 gallons of used cooking oil and donated $81,000 for the purchase of biofuel. This has amounted to 21,000 gallons of BioHeat distributed to 210 homes. These efforts have also offset 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from the environment.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:28:18 AM
Not a show on TV inspires me like #CNNHeroes does. 3 years of too much watching, I need to do something too. #inspired #TheBestPartOfMyDay

by Miguel Olave via twitter 12/3/2012 3:28:55 AM
man, CNN heroes is mindblowing and emotional and inspirational all in one area. Why can't I be there?!? #CNNHeroes @cnnheroes

by fatimahohh via twitter 12/3/2012 3:30:01 AM
'a child can drown in 20 seconds, i was under for 30' - @cullenjones that changed my life forever. he's an olympic gold medalist. #cnnheroes

by misslenabadr via twitter 12/3/2012 3:30:44 AM
My son Josh is my hero, Wanda Butts @CNNHeroes pbs.twimg.com/media/A9KQW6SCMAAp7qv.jpg

by The Josh Project via twitter 12/3/2012 3:31:04 AM
Next up: CNN Hero Malya Villard-Appolon. She is a rape survivor dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence in Haiti. In 2004, she co-founded KOFAVIV, an organization that has helped more than 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and/or legal aid.

Did you know ... Almost three years have passed since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. But nearly 370,000 people remain in displacement camps, according to the U.N.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:31:35 AM
For me, my life's dream would be to one day do something as amazing and influential as the #CnnHeroes. SO inspiring, touching, & beautiful.

by Victoria via twitter 12/3/2012 3:32:11 AM
by Kyle Almond, CNN edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:32:17 AM
Maria Bello is speaking now - introducing the next hero. The story is about Haiti - and Bello herself is very involved in Haitian charity work.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:32:25 AM
We're honored to help break the stigma of #addiction at #cnnheroes. Help us provide free programming for the over 20 million recovering

by PhoenixMS via twitter 12/3/2012 3:34:01 AM
Onstage now #CNNHereos Presenter @Maria_Bello. p.twimg.com/A9KRtRVCQAAryYD.jpg

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/3/2012 3:34:02 AM
by CNN Backstage 12/3/2012 3:35:08 AM
A Young Wonder and her presenter, below:

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:35:58 AM
I thank my son for letting me know about Malya Villard Appolon, a pioneer in Haiti for rape/domestic violence victims. #cnnheroes

by RaisingGreatMen via twitter 12/3/2012 3:36:57 AM
Well first time I woke up 5am in years, why coz I am watching this amazing program.... #cnnheroes

by 26AIsmail via twitter 12/3/2012 3:38:00 AM
Gruesome reports of violence, inadequate health care and substandard living conditions have painted a picture of horror and hopelessness in Haiti.

See the full story from CNN's Allie Torgan

by Kyle Almond, CNN edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:38:55 AM
wow.. #CNNHeroes

by JdotAli via twitter 12/3/2012 3:39:34 AM
Malya Villard-Appolon's husband was beaten to death when he fought her rapists. She's now fighting for other victims in Haiti. #CNNHeroes

by Ella Chick via twitter 12/3/2012 3:39:56 AM
Women, Strength and Pride!!! Those are exactly what we needAdaeze ArohDec 2, 2012 at 10:40 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:40:36 AM
Josh Duhamel presenting the award for the next hero now - he's active in several charities domestically, but also around the world, like this one.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:40:38 AM
Did you know... A report released in October by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed the number of teens who drink and drive dropped by 54% in the last 20 years. Ninety percent of high school students surveyed said they don't drink and drive at all.

But for all the improvement, the CDC estimated that high school teens still drank alcohol and drove 2.4 million times every month in 2011. And young drivers are 17 times more likely to die in a crash when there's alcohol involved. See the full story from CNN's Jamie Gumbrecht

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:42:10 AM
Lin knows, heroism has no age limit. BravoONELUKE22Dec 2, 2012 at 10:32 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:42:11 AM
In memory of his daughter who was killed by a drunken driver in 2007, CNN Hero Leo McCarthy started Mariah's Challenge.

The nonprofit gives college scholarships to teenagers who pledge not to drink while they're underage. Nearly $150,000 in scholarship money has been awarded.

by Kyle Almond, CNN edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:43:59 AM
Who will be CNN Hero of the Year? Leave your pick in the comments to the right...

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:44:13 AM
Check out a fellow State Farmer who's making a difference. What can we do in our community to help reduce underage drinking?
Mariah's Challenge: Fighting teen drinking - YouTube

by Brian Christie - State Farm... via facebook 12/3/2012 3:44:18 AM
Leo McCarthy/Mariahs Challenge give scholarships to sober students: "we lose someone every 15 mins to alcohol-related fatalities" @CNNHeroes

by MMartinezCNN via twitter 12/3/2012 3:45:13 AM
McCarthy: "Mariah’s Challenge is saving lives across Montana, the country -- and I don’t see why it can’t be done around the world. Talk to your kids. Let’s change our culture and keep these promising, smart, funny, vibrant kids alive. We need them. Thank you."

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 3:45:43 AM
Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones - a presenter tonight.

by CNN Backstage edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 3:45:48 AM
We need more fathers like you Leo --- saksnapDec 2, 2012 at 10:42 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:46:07 AM
Susan Sarandon is still yet to come. #cnnheroes Photo by @jencheckner
by dorrine.mendoza on Dec 2, 2012 at 10:46 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 3:46:55 AM