Stephen Knight: CNN hero of the year helps dogs in foster families

Stephen Knight: CNN hero of the year helps dogs in foster families

Stephen Knight, who was named hero of the year in 2024, saves with his non -profit organization Living a foster office, during which owners concentrate on their recovery. Online voters selected him from this year's Top 5 CNN Heroes

an important moment

"That means everything to me. I represent so much here. I represent the recovery community and the dog protection community ... that will help us get to the next stage," said Knight when he received the award.

a difficult way to recover

Knights journey began in 2011 when he lost everything at the age of 51 through metha addiction - his family, his job, his home and almost his life. HIV-positive and living in his car, he entered a rehabilitation at the urge of his mother.

The importance of pets in recovery

After treating months, Knights changed life when a friend was crying at his door. She had suffered a relapse and held her beloved dog Jayde in her arms. She explained that nobody would take Jayde and asked for Knight to drive her to an animal shelter to give up her dog.

"I looked at Jayde and we looked at each other," said Knight. "It was one of the most spiritual moments when I thought: 'I think we need each other here.'"

an innovative approach to dog help

Knight soon realized that other people hesitated or even forego treatment because they could not find safe accommodation for their pets. He got advice from a local animal protection association and developed through the minutes of animal care.

"These animal shelters work with 150 percent overcrowding. If they are overcrowded, they start with the euthanaing of dogs," said Knight. "We cannot tolerate that the solution is to put dogs to sleep."

over 1,200 rescued dogs

In 2015, Knights organization, dogs matter , registered as a non -profit organization. He structured his program by testing applicants, carrying out behavioral analyzes in animals and implementing contracts that asked the participants to adhere to their recovery plan and to complete a twelve -month after the release.

Today Knight lives with his three dogs, Jayde, Piper and Lady, and his organization helped more than 1,200 dogs and their owners. Since Knight is now approaching the 14th year of abstinence, he hopes to make Dogs Matter a national model program. His goal is to give other animals and their owners the same second chance of a life he received.

appreciation and support for the heroic deeds

"I share this price with Jayde. It is the reason why I did it. An act of friendliness led to the dream of being able to help others, and now, after saving 1,200 dogs, it is just fantastic. It is just starting," said Knight with pride.

As a CNN hero of the year, Knight receives $ 100,000 to expand his work. He and the other top 5 CNN Heroes each receive a bar bonus of $ 10,000 and donation matching of up to $ 50,000 from the elevate prize Foundation . Knight also receives another $ 50,000 from Elevate. In the third year of cooperation with CNN Heroes, Elevate also offers organizational and capacity -building support for the honored.

a night full of selflessness

known guests such as Bradley Cooper, Pedro Pascal, Oprah Winfrey, Misty Copeland and Zachary Quinto accompanied the transmission to share the stories of the top 5 CNN Heroes. Danai Gurira helped honor this year's Young Wonders, and Kelly Ripa also expressed her thanks to the heroes.

The second annual CNN Heroes Legacy Award was awarded to Michael J. Fox. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 29 and has brought hope for millions of people worldwide So far, the foundation has provided $ 2 billion to accelerate Parkinson's research and to exterminate the disease.

In his acceptance speech, Fox shared the honor with others: "I am very proud to speak in the name of all people with Parkinson's and their families who fought so hard for a remedy and have found a way through our foundation."