Designed to reward individuals who ‘make an extraordinary difference in their communities and beyond,’ the annual CNN Heroes ceremony has been capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide since its launch in 2007.

This year’s edition, which was hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, took place at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre and was aired globally last night. The panel of judges included Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Elton John, Mariane Pearl and Wallis Annenberg, and the award was given to Efren Peñaflorida, who was selected from over 9,000 nominations received.

Celebrities who attended the gala event included Pierce Brosnan, Nicole Kidman, Eva Mendes, Kate Hudson and Randy Jackson.