CNN honors everyday heroes

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CNN honored everyday heroes with a gala Thursday in New York.

A host of celebrities honored CNN Heroes finalists at a gala Thursday night. Harry Connick Jr. presented the award to the winner in the young wonder category.

Mira Sorvino was among those who attended the event, which was hosted by Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour.

Rosario Dawson gave the award to the defending the planet winner. The 18 finalists were selected from more than 7,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 80 countries.

One of the men honored as an everyday superhero -- remarkable people recognized for their spontaneous acts of courage in the face of danger -- was Wesley Autrey, with his daughter Shuqui. He jumped onto the subway tracks and saved a man who had just had a seizure.

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe of Uganda received the community crusader award for opening a school to rehabilitate girls who were devastated by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Kayla Cornale developed a music system that helps improve communications with autistic people. She was the young wonder recipient. The 18-year-old now runs a pilot research program while attending Stanford University.

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A host of celebrities honored CNN Heroes finalists at a gala Thursday night. Harry Connick Jr. presented the award to the winner in the young wonder category.

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