The MY HERO Project

Celebrate the best of humanity.

These essays have been written by vistors of all ages. If you have a hero story you would like to share with the world, visit the MY HERO Create Program.

Community Heroes

'No Butts' Measure Inspired by Ingenious Woodbridge Siblings	'Repair Cafes' reject a 'toss it out' culture	'Stove Man' videos aim to light a fire	'The Hunger Games' movie attracts campaigns to fight real-world hunger
A Powerful Noise promotes the global empowerment of women	A quirky, tiny grass-roots effort backs only 'Awesome' projects	Ablaye is a talented artist with an ambitious career planned, despite his physical disability.	After Boston Marathon blast, many show kindness to runners
Alex Hill helped to bring medical supplies to a Ugandan village.	Alice Baum and her husband Don Burnes left behind their careers to help the homeless.	Alvaro Cogollo uses popular music to entice Colombians to love nature	Ana Dodson formed Peruvian Hearts to provide Peruvian orphans an education.
Andrew E. Lieberman works to preserve indigenous languages and cultures.	Andrew Greene Jr. of Sierra Leone teaches the world about peace.	Angela Brooks is an architect who works to create sustainable and affordable housing.	Anshu Gupta brings 'clothing for dignity' to India
Anthony Dale Leanna donates 'Heavenly Hats' to cancer patients under treatment.	Antonio Roman-Alcala and Alemany Farm is a gardening activist seeking a sustainable food system.	Apps for Good: technical innovation from the minds and thumbs of disadvantaged youths	Art Miles Mural Project uses art to create a more peaceful global community.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter is an advocate for foster children and adoption rights.	Azie Morton valued education and gave back to her community.	BAFTA LA brings Shakespeare to life for South LA students.	Barbara Stuart Rabinowitsch was a member of the Laguna Beach Greenbelt and of Ballet Pacifica.
Barefoot College and Microformers shine as innovative power solutions	Beau Doherty is the president of Special Olympics Connecticut and the creator of the Unified Sports Program.	Becky Matkov works to preserve Miami's indigenous history.	Bilaal Rajan is the founder of Making Change Now and Canada's child ambassador to UNICEF.
Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes to bring shoes to children who don't have them.	Bob Geldof is known for his anti-poverty work for Africa and is a Nobel Prize nominee.	Bono (Paul Hewson) is a musician, advocate for AIDS victims and a humanitarian.	Brandon Keefe provides books to underfunded libraries in his hometown.
Brian Cox is the recreation director at South Central Park in Los Angeles who has given hope to the children and neighborhood.	Brian Mullaney is the founder of Surgery for the Poor.	Bringing quicker, easier solar power to rural Africa	Budi and Peggy Soehardi Roslin Orphanage provides a loving home to care for displaced and orphaned children in East Timor.
Bunker Roy has dedicated his life to improving the lives of the rural poor in India.	Cameron Sinclair is the founder of Architecture for Humanity, which brings services to communities in need.	Camila-Batmanghelidjh: Giving London street kids - even teen gang members - a safe (and colorful) home	Camille Zamora & Monica Yunus are best friends who founded Sing for Hope
Canal Futura is a Brazilian television channel which provides access to education.	Catchafire matches talented volunteers with opportunities to serve	Cesar Chavez was a tireless advocate for migrant farm workers.	Changing the face of aid, literally
Charlie Weingarten finds fresh ways to champion selfless acts of philanthropy	Chelsey Barrios and her peers collected thousands of books to give to Read to Grow.	Chepe Ubaque survived Colombia's mean streets. Now he helps others do the same.	Chi Nguyen was honored for helping street children in Vietnam.
Chief Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.	Child's Play Touring Theater performs worldwide works written by kids.	Christian Bryan Alexander Harvey visits schools to talk about social justice and how to stop bullying.	Clara Hale was foster mother and founder of the Hale House.
Cle Ross is bringing youth baseball back to an inner city	Clotilde Dedecker provides educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan.	Coluche is a French humorist who created an organization to feed the poor	Confronting bullying, one drumbeat at a time
Connie Siskowski follows her true passion to care for the youngest of the caregivers.	Corinne Almquist volunteers to restore the tradition of gleaning.	Craig Kielburger is an activist for childrens' rights and has founded 'Me to We' and 'Free the Children'.	Dana Reeve was an actress and advocate for the disabled. She was the heroic wife of Christopher Reeve.
Danielle Gletow lends a helping hand to children in foster care	Dave Congdon is a Special Olympics athlete and an inspiration to many facing barriers and difficult times.	Dennis Ryan Lawrence and Tara Ann Lawrence raise funds to fight cancer.	Detective Luis Rosa volunteers to make the lives of people with disabilities better.
Devin VanCleave was the Ambassador for a campaign to collect toys for children's hospitals.	Diane Challis Davy directs the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters.	Diners go 'Halfsies' to fight hunger and obesity	Divine Bradley: Team Revolution encourages kids to become involved in their communities and become leaders.
Dominic Deng Diing, a refugee in the U.S., educates 3,000 children back in South Sudan	Doug Miller Is an iconic artist and musician in Laguna Beach, Calfifornia.	Dr. Ed Gragert works towards peace and global education.	Dr. Ella Mae Piper helped young people and the elderly in her community of Fort Myers.
Dr. Felton Earls treats communities through his work.	Dr. Fred Barnett is a wise and compassionate pediatrician known for his caring ways.	Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy cares for the eyes of millions of people in India.	Dr. Larry Thomas is the founder of the Tropical Health Alliance Foundation.
Dr. Madan Kataria has started a revolution of joy and laughter that is spreading around the world.	Dr. Philip Zimbardo - Psychologist has created the Heroic Imagination Project to foster the belief that we are all heroes in waiting.	Ed Grant is passionate about helping others better their lives.	Efren Penaflorida helped create Dynamic Teen Company
Elizabeth Daley has created an outstanding multi media educational program that serves as a model for the world.	Elizabeth Glaser created the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.	Elizaveta Glinka: 'Dr. Liza' heads a free clinic that helps Moscow's homeless and hopeless	Ellen Lee DeGeneres is a comedienne and advocate for disadvantaged children, animals, and cancer survivors.
Emily Pozo created ICE to assist and educate residents of the Galapagos Islands	Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah rode a bike across Ghana to challenge the stigma of being disabled.	Engineers Without Borders are working to change the world.	Eric Maddox breaks bread - and barriers - one virtual dinner at a time
Eric Samuel established Community Food Enterprise to reduce food poverty in East London.	Erica Fernandez gave a voice to the voiceless and saved her neighborhood.	Eunice Kennedy Shriver dedicated her life to raising awareness and creating opportunities for the intellectually disabled.	FilmAid International educates, informs and to brings hope and joy to thousands of refugees.
Five microcredit programs innovate to break the cycle of poverty	Five poverty-fighting women to watch	Five reasons to serve others	For Boston Marathon's charity runners, resolve and camaraderie unshaken
Franco Majok fled Sudan - but returned to build a school	Fred Batley gives young and aspiring actors and actresses a chance to shine.	Friends of the Sea Lion rescue, treat, and release these mammals back into the ocean.	From gangs to gardens: Community agriculture transforms a San Francisco neighborhood
Funkor Child Art Center workds with many national and international organizations around the world to provide children with art and books.	Games for change: How digital fun is becoming a way to better the world	Geoffrey Canada is an educator, social activist and president of the Harlem Childrens Zone in New York.	Girls for Gender Equity, Inc. encourages girls to live self-determined and healthy lives and to contribute to their community.
Gleaning for good: an old idea is new again	Global Kids Leaders volunteer to help their schools and communities.	GoodGuide and others use technology to help turn consumers green	Grace Lee Boggs has advocated for marginalized people for over 70 years
Greg Mortenson persevered to build a school in a remote village in Pakistan.	Guillermo Ojeda-Lajud is a Mexican teacher who helps his students gain filmmaking skills to make a statement about their environment.	Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Cleanup Team work hard to return the Gulf to a healthy state.	Hany El-Miniawy is an Egyptian architect who uses architecture to help alleviate poverty.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician and worked to gain equal rights for the LGBT community.	Hazviperi Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to transform lives.	Heather Martina's Aunt Heather leaves everything to help others.	Heather DeWitt is a devoted conservationist.
Hector Morales teaches students to be self-sufficient environmentalists.	Helping New Orleans make a comeback is her personal passion	Henry Red Cloud: a solar warrior for native America	Herb Alpert is a musician and artist who inspires young people to reach their potential.
Holly Carter gives kids and others the tools to tell their stories.	Hortense Miller created a botanical garden on her hillside property and bequeathed it to her town of Laguna Beach.	Humanitarian Hero Abdul Sattar Edhi is Pakistan's Mother Teresa	Ikal Angelei: A Kenyan woman stands up against a massive dam project
INSIDEOUT WRITERS D'nA eBus Project bring tools of expression to juvenille hall.	Is Rio de Janeiro the world's first 'smart' city?	J.A. and Geraldine Reynolds Founded 'Bruce's Garden' in NYC which honors Bruce, a victim of 9/11.	Jack Sim has started a worldwide campaign for clean public toilets and better sanitation standards.
Jacob & Isaac Seigel-Boettner film stories of how bicycles can change lives for the better.	Jacob Komar and Computers for Communities refurbishes computers and helps inner city residents obtain IT skills.	Jacqueline Edelberg believes every child deserves a great neighborhood public school	Janet Miller is a teacher who stepped up to prevent bullying of LGBT students.
Jeneece Edroff is a determined fundraiser who raises money to help children with serious illnesses.	Jennifer Staple: Unite for Sight works to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness worldwide.	Jessie Christopherson helps the physically and mentally challenged accomplish things they never thought possible.	Jim Dilley was the founder of the Laguna Beach Greenbelt.
Jimmy Woodard helps community groups with his knowledge of media and technology	Joe Brown gave up his ocean front home and created a park for everyone.	Johann Olav Koss: Right To Play is a Norwegian Olympian who founded Right to Play	John Denver was an American songwriter/singer and activist for the environment.
John Tighe inspired his neighbor with his big heart and the way he cared for people in their community.	John Wood founded Room to Read, which works to increase literacy and educational gender equality in developing countries.	Jon Rose founded Waves for Water, which works on the front-line to provide clean water.	Jorge Munoz prepares and delivers meals to the hungry in Queens, New York.
Josee Sutton helps girls learn to read and is a caring role model to those in her girl scout troup.	Joseph Marcel Shook Jr. is a compassionate community leader and a hero to his son, Joseph.	Josh Vander Vies is a determined and amazing athlete.	Josue and Chrismedonne Lajeunesse work together to provide access to clean water for their village of La Source, Haiti.
Joze Pleenik was an architect from Slovenia who made his community beautiful.	Julie Leven brings classical music to homeless shelters	Karen Tse is an attorney dedicated to ensuring basic legal rights for Asian citizens.	Kathryn Cunningham founded the nonprofit 'Power Up Gambia' to provide solar energy to the hospitals and clinics.
Kathy Eldon inspired by her son, works for peace and tolerance.	Katie Simon founded Minga to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of young children.	Kennedy Odede grew his childhood dream of creating outreach centers for poor children like him.	Kimmie Weeks survived the war in Liberia and now works to rebuild communities in war-torn countries.
Kjerstin Erickson and Forge help refugees in Africa achieve economic self-sufficiency and empowerment through education.	L'Abbe Pierre devoted his life to helping the poor and homeless in France.	Latino Environmental Activists are shaping an urban agenda with smog, foul water among priorities.	Len Stanmore mixes adventure with helping others
Leonard Abess is known for his generosity to others and commitment to caring for the environment.	Lisa Markham is a passionate and committed volunteer to the Special Olympics.	Lisa Nigro works to help the homeless in Chicago through the Inspiration Cafe.	Liz Squibb knows how to help foster children - she was one herself
Ludomatica offers technology and creative learning to disadvantaged Colombian youth	Luis Soriano Bohorquez started the Biblioburro Library in the mountains of Colombia.	Lula Mae Walker has been a foster parent to 300 kids.	Lyndon Harris: People Making a Difference founded The Gardens of Forgiveness Project.
MacGillivray Family founded the non-profit MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation	Magic Johnson inspires others with his basketball talents and philanthropic work.	Major Moogy Sumner is an aboriginal Ngarrindjeri elder who understands the importance of preserving and passing on his culture.	Malaria Campaign 2009 Students join together to eradicate malaria.
Malika Sanders was born into the Civil Rights Movement and continues work today.	Marcia Levitas co-founded an art endeavor which raises funds for cancer research and education.	Marisol Lizelle Salvador lost her brother, but found a life - helping kids in the Philippines	Mary Lou Naso & Harry visit hospitals to spread smiles.
Matthew Cohen raised $5000 for the Solar Oven Project for the people of Haiti.	Maura Welch was recognized by NetAid for her work to spread awareness about child labor.	Maxine Waters is a Congresswoman who works fervently for her community.	Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity.
Mister Rogers television host, teacher and kindly neighbor to generations of children.	MIT Open Courseware Project makes education accessible worldwide by offering free MIT courseware online.	Mohamed Sidibay is a youth reporter who is committed to making a difference in the world.	Molly's Film The Story of a Young Filmmaker is the winner of the 8th Annual MY HERO Film Festival.
Mory Sanberg makes bag lunches for the homeless people in her city.	Mrs. Nirmala and the Eradication of Malaria Project are working in India to educate the public.	Muhammad Yunus started a bank for poor people in Bangladesh.	National Day of Service calls on Americans to help others
Navyn Salem manufactures success by helping to feed the world's hungry	Nawaraj Baskota is working to improve the education of the poorest children in Nepal.	Nick Vujicic went from a life without limbs to a life without limits.	Nicole Dewing and Curtis McCormack joined the Peace Corps and started a waste recycling project in Joal, Senegal.
On International Women's Day: 12 innovations that are lifting women out of poverty	OPEN VISION YOUTH PROJECT strives to provide technology to students in Uganda.	Our Hero Barack Obama instills inner city youth with confidence to get involved and make a difference.	Pam Smith-Rodden helped turn a dream into a reality for an author and a community.
Park, Won-Soon advocates a stronger Democracy for South Korea.	Patrons praise restaurant staff near Boston Marathon blast	Paul Cummins has devoted his career to finding ways to provide all children equitable access to a quality education.	Paul J. Adams III is a passionate educator who built a nationally renowned prep school for African American students.
Peace It Together empowers youth to promote peace.	Pedal = Sight tells how a bicycle can change a life.	Pete Carroll is a successful coach who founded A Better LA to help gang members live a better life and plug into their communities.	Photo Essay of Boston Marathon aftermath - Christian Science Monitor
Playing For Real Reggie McBride & Mark Johnson make Peace through Music with Playing for Change-	Police Chief Richard Lamunyon founded the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Program.	Powering Potential puts technology in schools in Tanzania while respecting local cultures	President Obama's address for Inauguration 2013
Puppies Behind Bars benefits both inmates and dogs.	Queen Noor passionately works for peace, human rights, and wildlife conservation.	Queen Rania of Jordan is a crusader for the rights of women and children.	Question Box helps people Google can't reach
R. Sargent Shriver 1915 - 2011 Outstanding Public Servant Remembered for Directing The Peace Corps	Ralf Hotchkiss is an engineer, inventor and humanitarian, and the founder of Whirlwind Wheelchair International.	Ramani Sankaranarayanan and Geeta Vaidyanathan founded CTxGrEn to show villagers how to turn native materials into fuel for electricity.	Ravi Gulati has created learning centers for children with special needs in India.
Rhonda Alvarez Licona is the founder of Dream Catchers.	Richard Avery is a beloved Scoutsmaster who has volunteered at home and overseas.	Richard Proudfit founded Kids Against Hunger to feed starving children around the world.	Rick Hansen broke boundaries and records as a disabled athlete.
Roberto Saviano wrote a best selling book denouncing organized crime.	Robin Lim devotes her life to improving the birth experience so that all humans are born with an intact capacity to love.	Rose Marie Thomas donated time and effort to combatting childhood catastrophic diseases.	Rosemarie L. Poeppelman is a foster mom and an adoptive parent who has changed the lives of many children.
Roxanne J. Coady has a love of books that has enhanced the community and brought literature into the lives of thousands of families.	Ruth DeGolia: Mercado Global works to help poor communities that have seen the collapse of prices for their locally grown crops.	Sabriye Tenberken helps to educate and better the lives of blind people living in Tibet.	Saeed Awan developed a new carpet loom that reduces child labor in Pakistan.
Samaritan's Purse helps feed those in need worldwide	Samuel Mockbee is an architect and teacher who builds homes for the poor.	Sandra Kay Yow is a groundbreaking women's basketball coach and founder of Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.	Sanjit 'Bunker' Roy encourages villagers to have the confidence to succeed.
Santosh Thorat: After seeing Mumbai's slums bulldozed, he now works to save and restore them	Sasa a young doctor in Burma keeps his promise to his village.	Seiji Yoshimura rushes to natural disasters to help	Sergei Abramov's goal: an educational blog that doesn't bore his fellow Russian teens
Shirley Blair helps bring education to Tibetan children from Nepal.	Simon Velez is a prize winning architect who uses sustainable materials.	Sindhu Ravishankar created the Vivid Vision Project to provide accessible eye care to impoverished communities in India.	Sir Elton John is a successful musician who is also a champion of LGBT and AIDS issues.
Sister Margaret Scheetz founded Beatitude House for homeless women and children.	Skip Blumberg successfully campaigned against City Hall to re-open a section of historic City Hall Park in NYC.	Skye Malik founded the Paco Project to empower those with dyslexia.	Soedati Warsito Rasman is a motivated activist for Indonesia's needy.
Solar power: cheap electricity for world's poor	Somaly Mam has dedicated her life to finding and mentoring children who have suffered from human trafficking.	Special Olympics Tennis: Love Regardless of the Score	Sports to Share teaches teamwork, fair play, and tolerance
Studs Terkel The author who captured the stories of everyday people celebrates his 95th birthday.	Tatiana rossman: Books flow from an American teen to African schools	Teach Twice shares stories with the world	Temple Grandin is a professor, doctor of animal science and an autism activist.
Tendol Gyalzur provides a home and family for Tibetan and Chinese orphans.	Terram Foundation brings job growth, community involvement, and local solutions to larger environmental concerns.	Thais Corral gives women a voice in their communities through access to communication technology.	The Community College Foundation eBus brings technology to underserved communities and schools.
The Daffodil Project through the generosity of B&K Bulbs in the Netherlands, brought hope to NYC after 9/11.	The Heifer Organization works with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.	The Train Guy - Eric Clemons reflects on how an anonymous hero helped shape his life.	The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is a hero to Libby for its dedication to keep music education in the public schools.
They opened their home - and hearts - to South Africa's abandoned babies	To fight hunger, donate 'Just One Can'	Tony Boursiquot rushed home to Haiti to become a 'defender of the weakest'	Tori Degen is a cancer survivor who helps others with MAKE A WISH Foundation
Tri Mumpuni Iskandar builds small hydro plants to bring electricity to Indonesian villages	Two worlds, one classroom School that Reaches Out to children and families from the nearby slum in India.	Tyler Russell began a community radio station and goes out of his way to find, promote, and interview indie artists that don't get commercial recognition	UCLA students dance ′til dawn, raise millions for pediatric AIDS
Unconventional Charity: Water aims to raise $2 billion for clean water	Using Hollywood to teach people about disaster giving	Valentina Mindoljevic is a science teacher who helped to provide aid to women and child refugees in Croatia.	Van Jones has found an effective way of addressing environmentalism and social justice by linking both issues.
Versatile engines power up rural African villages	Vicky Colbert de Arboleda is a leader in the movement to transform education in Colombia to provide equal access to all children.	Vikas Khanna is a chef, restaurant owner, and humanitarian who uses food to bring together a global community.	Viola Vaughn founded an organization that supports girls working to achieve academic success in Africa.
Visaka Dharmadasa works to ease the horrors of war in Sri Lanka.	Vy Higginsen brings gospel music to at risk teens.	William Henry Gates III co-founder of Microsoft, is devoted to humanitarian causes around the world.	William Kamkwamba designed and built a windmill, at the age of 14, for his family in Malawi, Africa.
World Water Day 2012: Two innovations for purifying water	Wyland is an internationally recognized artist and marine life conservationist.	Young@Heart is a chorus of senior citizens that sings classic rock and pop songs.	Zainab Rezai leads her community towards progress.