In a week dominated by election headlines, here is a story about people who spend their days quietly making life better for others. CNN has named its Top 5 CNN Heroes of 2026, and the public is now voting to choose the Hero of the Year. Voting runs through November 29, and the winner will be revealed during a live tribute broadcast on Saturday, December 5.
The five finalists
Dion Dawson, Chicago. Through his nonprofit, Dion’s Chicago Dream, Dawson employs people from the community to deliver free fresh produce to thousands of households every week, tackling food insecurity in neighborhoods where fresh food can be hard to find.
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda. Often described as Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, she founded Conservation Through Public Health, which works around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Her group links the protection of endangered mountain gorillas with the health and income of the families who live beside the park. Ugandan outlet Watchdog Uganda reports the group has worked with more than 10,000 households and credits these efforts with helping the area’s gorilla population grow by more than half.
Andrew Lunetta, Syracuse, New York. His organization, A Tiny Home for Good, builds small, permanent homes and pairs them with supportive housing and case management for people coming out of homelessness.
Jaina Spagis, Southern California. With Cats of San Bernardino, Spagis runs trap-neuter-return efforts, feeds cat colonies and rescues high-need animals. CNN reports she has placed about 2,000 cats and kittens in homes.
Kiko Trujillo, Arizona and Sonora. His group, Arizona Sonora Border Projects for Inclusion (ARSOBO), provides custom wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing devices and rehabilitation to low-income families on both sides of the border. It has served nearly 3,500 people with disabilities and employs people with disabilities in its workshops.
How the voting works
Voting opened October 28 at CNN.com/Heroes. Supporters can vote up to 10 times a day, according to Watchdog Uganda’s report on the contest rules, and voting closes November 29.
Each of the five finalists receives $10,000 for their cause. The Hero of the Year receives an additional $100,000 from CNN, and Watchdog Uganda reports the winner also receives a $100,000 unrestricted grant from the Elevate Prize Foundation.
The 20th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, hosted by Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates, airs Saturday, December 5, at 8 p.m. ET.
What these stories have in common
None of the five started with a large institution behind them. Each saw a specific need close to home, such as empty refrigerators, unhoused neighbors, stray animals or children without wheelchairs, and built something practical to meet it. Several of them also hire from the communities they serve, so the help creates jobs as well as relief.
That pattern shows up again and again in People stories on Upstormed News, from Valdas Adamkus’s journey from war refugee to president to the volunteers families meet every holiday season. Big change often starts with one person who decides not to look away.
Why it matters for families
The CNN Heroes vote is an easy way to talk with children about service. Read the five profiles together, let each family member pick the cause that moves them most, and then look for a local version: a food pantry, an animal shelter or a group that serves neighbors with disabilities. The holidays are a natural time to give an afternoon of help.
Upstormed News will report the Hero of the Year when it is announced on December 5.
Read more: Valdas Adamkus Turns 100: From War Refugee to EPA Leader to Lithuania’s President
Which of the five finalists inspires you most, and who is a hero in your own community? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: CNN via Yahoo, “Who will be the next CNN Hero of the Year? Get to know the Top 5” (October 28, 2026); Watchdog Uganda, “Ugandan Wildlife Veterinarian Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka Named Among Top 5 CNN Heroes of 2026” (October 31, 2026).
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