Amy was honoured in early 2011 as the first CNN Hero of the Year, and the Infinite Family Net Buddies, mentors, board and friends were please when she was announced in September as one of the Top 10 finalists.
"It has been a very exciting roller-coaster ride. The support of our entire network of Net Buddies, mentors, friends, family and community is so inspiring." says Stokes of the honour.
As a Top 10 2011 CNN Heroes honoree, Stokes and the other finalists received US$50 000 toward their work. She already has plans to put this money to good use, continuing to open additional mentoring labs in South Africa in early 2012.
"The work goes on as we hope to bring more and more teens into the program, especially those in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. I am truly grateful to CNN for this honor and the global recognition that goes hand in hand with all the publicity. Just to be nominated was great; to be named a finalist was amazing. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me, who support us when funding is so tight, and thank the kids and their mentors, my colleagues, our sponsors and funders, my family and friends across the globe. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their support, faith and hard work.
"Thank you to CNN for shining a spotlight on the work of heroes everywhere. To people like me and the other worthy finalists, the recognition alone is priceless. The prize money goes a long, long way in helping increase our network of kids who so desperately need help in guiding their lives and futures in a positive direction," Amy concluded.
For more, go to www.infinitefamily.org
