The Elevate Prize Foundation will be matching donations to all of the 2025 Top 5 CNN Heroes up to $50,000 per hero. The names of non-anonymous donors and their donation amounts may be published on air during CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.

When massive wildfires hit California in 2020, Heidi Carman and her certified therapy dog, Kerith, made it their mission to comfort firefighters working on the front lines. The experience led her to realize the national need for this type of support, which has been proven to reduce stress, so she started First Responder Therapy Dogs. Since 2021, her nonprofit has certified more than 480 therapy dog teams and provided relief to more than 150,000 first responders in 46 states.