Top 10 CNN Hero for 2017 Stan Hays, the co-founder of Operation BBQ Relief, works to feed victims and first responders after disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Learn more about the efforts of Hays and the rest of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2017/11/01/cnn-heroes-top-10-reveal-orig-mc.cnn">top 10 CNN Heroes for 2017</a> by clicking through the gallery.
Top 10 CNN Hero for 2017 Stan Hays, the co-founder of Operation BBQ Relief, works to feed victims and first responders after disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Learn more about the efforts of Hays and the rest of the top 10 CNN Heroes for 2017 by clicking through the gallery.
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Operation BBQ Relief has prepared more than 1.75 million meals for survivors and first responders. Volunteers show up after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires and other disasters. More than 6,800 volunteers have joined the effort. "It is people helping people the best way we know how," said Hays.
Operation BBQ Relief has prepared more than 1.75 million meals for survivors and first responders. Volunteers show up after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires and other disasters. More than 6,800 volunteers have joined the effort. "It is people helping people the best way we know how," said Hays.
David Scott Holloway/CNN
While volunteering in Cambodia in 2014, then-college student Samir Lakhani saw that many rural communities did not have access to soap or hygiene education. Determined to change that, Samir set up hubs around the country to sanitize and recycle soap from local hotels and provide jobs. His organization, Eco-Soap Bank, has donated 186,698 bars of soap in less than three years and helped more than 666,562 people in need.
While volunteering in Cambodia in 2014, then-college student Samir Lakhani saw that many rural communities did not have access to soap or hygiene education. Determined to change that, Samir set up hubs around the country to sanitize and recycle soap from local hotels and provide jobs. His organization, Eco-Soap Bank, has donated 186,698 bars of soap in less than three years and helped more than 666,562 people in need.
Palani Mohan/Getty Images for CNN
"Lack of hygiene is not something that's unique only to Cambodia. It's seen across the developing world. The developing world is also home to some of the busiest tourism centers in the world. We can assume that they're producing equally large amounts of used soap that should be redirected to the people who need it." The soap banks employ about 35 women locally, allowing them to provide for their families and facilitate eduction for their children.
"Lack of hygiene is not something that's unique only to Cambodia. It's seen across the developing world. The developing world is also home to some of the busiest tourism centers in the world. We can assume that they're producing equally large amounts of used soap that should be redirected to the people who need it." The soap banks employ about 35 women locally, allowing them to provide for their families and facilitate eduction for their children.
Palani Mohan/Getty Images for CNN
Chicago police Officer Jennifer Maddox founded the after-school program Future Ties to give children a safe space for tutoring, mentoring and establishing life goals. A Chicago native, Maddox has seen how violence and lack of structure affect youth on the city's South Side. She knew she had to help. "We can't arrest our way out of this," she said.
Chicago police Officer Jennifer Maddox founded the after-school program Future Ties to give children a safe space for tutoring, mentoring and establishing life goals. A Chicago native, Maddox has seen how violence and lack of structure affect youth on the city's South Side. She knew she had to help. "We can't arrest our way out of this," she said.
Joshua Lott/CNN
Future Ties mentors help program participants with their homework, provide hot meals and steer kids in a positive direction. The ultimate goal is to reach all 1,200 children who live in Parkway Gardens homes, an apartment complex on the South Side with a tough reputation. Maddox works a second job to support these efforts.
Future Ties mentors help program participants with their homework, provide hot meals and steer kids in a positive direction. The ultimate goal is to reach all 1,200 children who live in Parkway Gardens homes, an apartment complex on the South Side with a tough reputation. Maddox works a second job to support these efforts.
Joshua Lott/CNN
Marine Sgt. Andrew Manzi served two tours in Iraq. He returned home with a brain injury and some PTSD, lost and angry. But then he discovered the healing power of surfing, and wanted to give that same healing to other veterans. Manzi started Warrior Surf, a nonprofit that provides free six-week-long surf camps and therapy sessions to veterans.
Marine Sgt. Andrew Manzi served two tours in Iraq. He returned home with a brain injury and some PTSD, lost and angry. But then he discovered the healing power of surfing, and wanted to give that same healing to other veterans. Manzi started Warrior Surf, a nonprofit that provides free six-week-long surf camps and therapy sessions to veterans.
Raymond McCrea Jones/CNN
The group has found that having therapy on the beach makes it more approachable for veterans. They aren't required to participate if they're not ready, but they are encouraged to work with the organization's therapist. Spouses and children are also invited, because healing is a family affair, according to Manzi.
The group has found that having therapy on the beach makes it more approachable for veterans. They aren't required to participate if they're not ready, but they are encouraged to work with the organization's therapist. Spouses and children are also invited, because healing is a family affair, according to Manzi.
Raymond McCrea Jones/CNN
Rosie Mashale is founder and managing director of Baphumelele, a South African organization that provides various levels of care for more than 5,000 children in desperate need. Many of the children are ill or have lost their parents to AIDS.
Rosie Mashale is founder and managing director of Baphumelele, a South African organization that provides various levels of care for more than 5,000 children in desperate need. Many of the children are ill or have lost their parents to AIDS.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN
Caring is in "Mama Rosie's" bones. A former schoolteacher, she opened a free day care center in her Cape Town, South Africa, home when she witnessed children playing in a nearby dump. The day care turned into an orphanage after she found a sick child abandoned on her doorstep.
Caring is in "Mama Rosie's" bones. A former schoolteacher, she opened a free day care center in her Cape Town, South Africa, home when she witnessed children playing in a nearby dump. The day care turned into an orphanage after she found a sick child abandoned on her doorstep.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN
Leslie Morissette turned her personal tragedy into positive energy after the death of her 8-year-old son from leukemia. She founded Grahamtastic Connection, a nonprofit that provides computers, iPads and robots that help keep ill children connected to the outside world.
Leslie Morissette turned her personal tragedy into positive energy after the death of her 8-year-old son from leukemia. She founded Grahamtastic Connection, a nonprofit that provides computers, iPads and robots that help keep ill children connected to the outside world.
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Morissette's nonprofit is named for her son, Graham, whose friendly and open nature inspired her to come up with a way for children fighting cancer and other serious illnesses to keep their friendships and family connections going. The robots allow sick students to heal while enjoying a classroom experience similar to their peers.
Morissette's nonprofit is named for her son, Graham, whose friendly and open nature inspired her to come up with a way for children fighting cancer and other serious illnesses to keep their friendships and family connections going. The robots allow sick students to heal while enjoying a classroom experience similar to their peers.
David Scott Holloway/CNN
Mona Patel was 17 when her life was turned upside-down by a drunken driver. She lost part of her leg after being struck by a car. She found support hard to come by and later created the San Antonio Amputee Foundation. The group offers peer support, education and financial help with prosthetics.
Mona Patel was 17 when her life was turned upside-down by a drunken driver. She lost part of her leg after being struck by a car. She found support hard to come by and later created the San Antonio Amputee Foundation. The group offers peer support, education and financial help with prosthetics.
Ilana Panich-Linsman/CNN
Patel exercises with Bennelina, whose leg was amputated during a battle with cancer that began at age 7. Patel offered support before Bennelina's surgery and went on to explain the many prosthetic options available to amputees. Bennelina decided on a prosthesis similar to Patel's, making them "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2017/10/05/cnn-heroes-patel-extra.cnn.html">Sparkle Twins</a>."
Patel exercises with Bennelina, whose leg was amputated during a battle with cancer that began at age 7. Patel offered support before Bennelina's surgery and went on to explain the many prosthetic options available to amputees. Bennelina decided on a prosthesis similar to Patel's, making them "Sparkle Twins."
Ilana Panich-Linsman/CNN
At Khali Sweeney's Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program in Detroit, around 100 children get training, hot meals and academic tutoring five days a week. After escaping street life, Sweeney began mentoring at-risk and troubled kids out of his own pocket to save other young people from the same path.
At Khali Sweeney's Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program in Detroit, around 100 children get training, hot meals and academic tutoring five days a week. After escaping street life, Sweeney began mentoring at-risk and troubled kids out of his own pocket to save other young people from the same path.
John Nowak/CNN
The facility may look like a typical boxing gym at first glance, but the tutoring tables, computers and books give it away. Sweeney's motto is "Books before boxing." So far, at least 267 students have completed the program. All of them, according to Sweeney, have graduated high school, and 98% have gone on to college.
The facility may look like a typical boxing gym at first glance, but the tutoring tables, computers and books give it away. Sweeney's motto is "Books before boxing." So far, at least 267 students have completed the program. All of them, according to Sweeney, have graduated high school, and 98% have gone on to college.
John Nowak/CNN
Aaron Valencia's nonprofit, the Lost Angels Children's Project, is an after-school program focusing on classic car restoration. Valencia, a Los Angeles mechanic, wanted to give at-risk kids the chance he never had: to learn a trade and have a positive focus.
Aaron Valencia's nonprofit, the Lost Angels Children's Project, is an after-school program focusing on classic car restoration. Valencia, a Los Angeles mechanic, wanted to give at-risk kids the chance he never had: to learn a trade and have a positive focus.
Sam Comen/CNN
Since he formalized the project in 2015, Valencia has worked with about 100 young people. "A lot of these kids have been through trauma ... and coping skills is something that no one really teaches you," Valencia said. "We have little roundtable discussions, just talking about normal topics of peer pressure, life experiences."
Since he formalized the project in 2015, Valencia has worked with about 100 young people. "A lot of these kids have been through trauma ... and coping skills is something that no one really teaches you," Valencia said. "We have little roundtable discussions, just talking about normal topics of peer pressure, life experiences."
Sam Comen/CNN
Amy Wright, founder and CEO of Bitty & Beau's Coffee, employs approximately 40 people living with physical and intellectual disabilities ranging from Down Syndrome to autism to cerebral palsy. The North Carolina shop is known as "The Happiest Place in Wilmington."
Amy Wright, founder and CEO of Bitty & Beau's Coffee, employs approximately 40 people living with physical and intellectual disabilities ranging from Down Syndrome to autism to cerebral palsy. The North Carolina shop is known as "The Happiest Place in Wilmington."
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Bitty & Beau's Coffee staff members join a conga line with Wright and her daughter Bitty, 7, and son Beau, 12, during a dance break. The business is named for the children, who live with Down syndrome. She and her husband were determined to create employment opportunities for people like Bitty and Beau when they discovered that 70% of disabled people don't have jobs.
Bitty & Beau's Coffee staff members join a conga line with Wright and her daughter Bitty, 7, and son Beau, 12, during a dance break. The business is named for the children, who live with Down syndrome. She and her husband were determined to create employment opportunities for people like Bitty and Beau when they discovered that 70% of disabled people don't have jobs.
Krisanne Johnson/Getty Images for CNN