A couple of months ago we posted an article urging our followers to vote online for CNN’s ‘Hero of the Year’ award, for which a Colombian man, Jeison Aristizábal from Cali, was nominated. Jeison runs a foundation in his native city named the ‘Asociación de Discapacitados del Valle’ (ASODISVALLE), or ‘The Association of Disabled People of the Valley,’ aimed at helping children with disabilities and their families. The foundation offers not just healthcare, but education, therapy and motivational classes.
What makes Jeison even more remarkable is that he was born with a serious disability himself. Doctors gave him little chance at birth, and yet he currently runs the foundation and is studying for a degree and…he’s CNN’s ‘Hero of the Year’ for 2016!
In addition to the $50,000 that Jeison already received for being nominated in the Top 10, he will receive $250,000 to continue his amazing and inspiring work. His acceptance speech (you can watch it here on the CNN Heroes Facebook page) brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the room, even though Jeison couldn’t wipe the grin off his face! Everyone nominated for the prize is doing incredible work, but there can hardly be anyone more deserving than Jeison!
Congratulations to Jeison, you’re not just CNN’s Hero of the Year, you’re a Colombian hero as well!
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