>> join us on december 6th for the cnn heroes all-star tribute. we will honor everyday heroes who are changing lives across the world. thanks for joining us. good night. they are young, hip, and famous. gracing magazine covers, walking red carpets and starring in some of the most popular film and tv shows around. but behind the scene these three famous rising stars have heroes of their own. >> she impacted my life. >> and important causes they like to support. >> when they call me up to host i'm there. >> i think it's about finding what it is you're passionate about. tonight we introduce you to three young stars using their fame for good both on screen and off.

>> right here. >> shane mitchell is a model, and social media sensation. one of hollywood's hottest young stars. a lead on pretty little liars. she can be seen on magazine covers, award shows and in music videos. when she is not in the spotlight, this 28-year-old pours her heart and soul into projects that are saving and changing lives. >> if i'm instagraming a photo with a story, i want people to know and youth all over i want you all to know that you can make a change. you can make a difference. >> millions of shay's flowerers see her as a hollywood sweetheart but her core values were installed in her before she was famous. >> my parents taught me to treat everyone equally no matter where

they came from or what they believed in. and that was something that really became a huge part of who i am today from my parents. i remember my parents instilling the importance of leaving the world a better place than when you came into it. what can i do when my time is over and i can feel good about this. >> shay was born in canada but moved to thailand. in thailand the poverty made a profound impression. >> we arrived at night and i saw this girl hold agnew born. she hit the window and was like please, please. i was like what is going on. i was looking for her parents and somebody's got to be here. that's impossible. how can a little girl be carrying a newborn at 10:30 at night. on this highway. it was eye opening for me that that was happening.

and there was that much poverty. >> as shay's career took off she spent more time abroward and saw children struggling to survive. she teamed up with an international charity called free the children that works to end the cycle of poverty all over the world. >> they set up these amazing schools and going into these communities encouraging these youth to know they have a bigger purpose. it is just incredible to see the defense they are making in these communities. >> free the children works to improve education and living conditions in rural communities. in january 2014, shay travelled with the group to kenya, to meet students enrolled in their program. >> in kenya the girls there were so brave and so strong. they had so much confidence and they had just become empowered because of the programs that free the children offer over there. they taught them education. they learned that they can have an impact in their community. >> thousands of empowered

yusds -- >> shay helps out at a special free the children event called we day aimed at empowering young people to change the world. >> you can't purchase a ticket. you have to earn hours of service. you have to work for it. you are getting kids who really want to make a difference in this huge stadium. when they call me to host or speak at a we day event i'm like i'm there. no problem. that is responsibility for me. it is the youth that are going to be making a difference. and by using your voice and social media that we have at our fingertips we have to do this. >> on top of the charities she supports she works with a socially conscious fashion line called raven and lily where style and sustainable go hand in hand. >> they have given job opportunities to over is,000 women in 13 countries. they are being paid fair trade wages and creating beautiful

designs that we are able to wear over here by purchasing it on their site. we got to experience what they were doing in um buy which is beading. >> with more than 4 million facebook likes and 9 million instagram followers she is a social media darling. >> i don't care if you have two followers or 10 billion it is important to use your voice to educate people they can make a difference. i'm fortunate to have the platform that i have on social media and our fans are absolutely amazing. >> came back to tell me he is innocent. >> from being on pretty little liars they are waiting to see backstage photos but they love to see photos of my time in india. they want to know more. i want to ueducate them on the organizations i work with.

>> shay opened up with her painful experiences. >> i was bullied when i was in high school and it was extremely hard. i ate lunch in the bathroom. it was a really lonely time for me. a lot of the time they are like you were bullied? yes, i was. i think i'm going okay now. i managed to rise above that. i want them to know they're not alone. >> friend of cnn heroes, shay mitchell. >> beyond the work that she does with groups that help women and children she is a friend of cnn heroes. she has long been a part of the campaign to shine a light on everyday people doing extraordinary things. >> the cnn heroes event is my favorite event to attend. everybody in my life knows that this is the most important event to me. i love the fact that we are celebrating these everyday people from all around the world

who are doing extraordinary things. and changing their communities and changing lives. every time i go there i'm going to have to bring a box of kleenexs with me. >> as we prepare for cnn heroes to air on sunday december 6th, shay hopes more people will be inspired by the good work that so many everyday heroes are doing. >> i think with the continuation of this event and hopefully more like it all these people who are going amazing things will have that spotlight. you know, because then other people are inspired and they start working with them and it becomes bigger and bigger. from one person it can grow out to so many more and help so many more people. >> tune in to cnn heroes an all-star tribute on sunday december 6th for a salute to evidence people changing the world. coming up next an idol who

stole america's heart is giving back to people. >> you can inspire somebody else to start doing something. ♪ (vo) some call it giving back. we call it share the love. during our share the love event, get a new subaru, and we'll donate $250 to those in need. bringing our total donations to over sixty-five million dollars. and bringing love where it's needed most. love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru.

it's a really big deal. and with fever, aches, and chills,

mom knows it needs a big solution: an antiviral. don't kid around with the flu, call your doctor within the first 48 hours of symptoms and ask about prescription tamiflu. attack the flu virus at its source with tamiflu, an antiviral that helps stop it from spreading in the body. tamiflu in liquid form is fda approved to treat the flu in people two weeks of age and older whose flu symptoms started within the last two days. before taking tamiflu tell your doctor if you're pregnant, nursing, have serious health conditions, or take other medicines. if you develop an allergic reaction, a severe rash, or signs of unusual behavior, stop taking tamiflu and call your doctor immediately. children and adolescents in particular may be at an increased risk of seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior. the most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. anti-flu? go antiviral with tamiflu.

welcome back. jord jordin sparks is the youngest american idol winner. has released several studio albums, several singles and made tv and film appearances. out of the limelight she spends her time helping others. >> for me giving back is part of my childhood. my parents were always giving back to the community. >> after her fame on american idol her popularity soared.

she spent stretches on the road touring and performing. between gigs on an airport tv monitor she saw a news clip about the beating and death of a young chicago boy. those images changed her life forever. >> the clip affected me. it was a viral clip of a young boy being beaten up. i remember being so mad and thinking to myself, nobody did anything. and i called my mom bawling and said no one did anything to change it or to help. that turned into the i matter you campaign. taking something that stirs something in your spirit and you go out an try to change it. >> jordin's mad campaign stemmed from her outrage but it turned into a campaign to help others. m.a.d. stands for making a difference. >> the clip really affected me. and i was so taken by the fact that nobody stepped in or nobody

helped, you know, and it's that transferred into like we can do this. we can make a difference whether it is in bullying or you know, trying to raise money for a cancer foundation or planting a tree or reading to kids. we want to encourage kids and young adults and older adults if they see something and they want to change something, they can. you can do it. you don't have to wait for somebody else. you can do it. >> jordin started the mad girls inc. she teamed up with her mom, dad and brother to put a twist on super bowl week. they go into local hospitals in super bowl host cities to lift spirits. >> we have been in dallas, new orleans, we were in new york. phoenix. we go visit a hospital and we have a teddy bear picnic. we go to the hospital and read a book or visit the kids. i pass out teddy bears and we

just go make their day. >> there is no issue too small or too large for her group to tackle. she recently used the m.a.d. campaign to promote awareness for sickle cell anemia and another passion is melanoma cancer. >> wendy was my mom's best friend like a second mother to me. she had gone through melanoma before. and it came back. it went really, really quickly. she found out it had come back in february and she was gone by may. she was here and then she wasn't. it was definitely eye opening to see how quickly it can spread an how fast it can overtake your body. >> jordin says wendy's cancer battle came at the height of her idol success. at the time, jordin wore orange for melanoma awareness week. >> it is my favorite color and it represents her heart and

strength and determination and the amazing woman that she was. she really impacted my life. cancer awareness, anything that we can do is amazing but melanoma is a focus. we always also encourage people to get their skin checked. you never know. >> in addition to cancer awareness and the work she does in hospitals she and her m.a.d. campaign have launched health initiatives in uganda, jamaica and haiti. she visited haiti and was able to help out on the ground. >> the school in haiti is a community learning center. you drive three hours up the mountain to get there. but we got to visit. we asked them what would you guys need? and they really -- they are like we just really need a nurse. we were able to raise the funds to get a nurse's station out there. so now the medications come immediately. some of the kids, they forego

going to school to get the water for their family. we provided cisterns up there to catch water to have the water there means they can have a better education. you realize how much you take for granted when you get to go and visit different places. but you realize how much we don't say thank you for the things we do have or we don't stop to think about wow, i can walk today. i have a water bottle. i'm very thankful for this right now. >> jordin admits that singing is what really drives her. but she has been able to use her fame to shine a light on issues and causes she cares deeply about. >> i have to sing. every day i wake up and i know that there will be a moment where i will be singing whether it's at home by myself or i have a show. i'm compelled to. i was a fan of the show. an then i auditioned because i

thought it would be fun. and i made it on the show and i'm like, whoa, i really have to do this now. and that was really crazy. because i just want to sing. everything else has been this crazy rush and crazy bonus. but i'm still that quirky girl that walked into the audition room. i always want to project positivity. there just so much that is negative that i'm just trying to be a little, light. i always try to post something that is happy or going to make somebody's day or make them laugh. >> jordin was a star at a young age but the journey has taught her the most. her album called right here, right now sums it up. >> right here right now. >> all we have is right here, right now. if there is anything i learned from being able to go to all these places and you know, help and see and just have all these eye-opening experiences it's that you have to live in the

moment. you never know when something could happen whether it be cancer or an earthquake or, you know, you -- my little sister ends up in the hospital again. or you never know. so you just got to appreciate the moment and tell those you love you love them. >> and while she continues to speak out she has advice for young people who want to give back. >> first of all i want to encourage who are wondering how they can change the world to think positively first. everything starts with a thought, a feeling, an idea and you go from there. the small things turn into big things and they have ripple effects. by doing something you can inspire somebody else to do something. it doesn't matter how old you are. you can always make a difference. i say start right now. go do it. >> up next, abigail breslin found fame at an early age in

little miss sunshine. she may be all grown up but she has not stopped doing the work that she started as a child. >> for me it's sitting down with the kids and playing music with them or making arts and crafts and just having fun with them so they can have a good day. to do great things, sometimes you gotta break the rules. surface pro 4. a new screen for new perspectives. a new pen for new masterpieces. new speakers for a new sound. we reinvented the surface pro. so you can reinvent everything else.

breaking from the norm is never easy. doing your own thing, making your own way can be pretty, well, bold. rickie fowler is redefining what it means to be a golfer. quicken loans is doing the same for mortgages. quicken loans. home buy. refi. power. official mortgage sponsor of the pga tour. human maintenance guy would acti got to hang a picture.am. it may not seem like much, but to that resident it was the best thing in the world. it's amazing to me because it takes me seconds.

but yet, when i go into the apartment, i'm there for half an hour. it is not just hanging a picture, it is conversing, it is being a friend. there aren't old people there. there are actually young people with old clothing on. that's why i switched from u-verse to xfinity.

now i can download my dvr recordings and take them anywhere. ready or not, here i come! (whispers) now hide-and-seek time can also be catch-up-on-my-shows time. here i come! can't find you anywhere! don't settle for u-verse. x1 from xfinity will change the way you experience tv. . [ screaming ]. >> i won, i won. >> at just so years old, abigail breslin captivated audiences in her performance in the twix indy smash little miss sunshine. that role won her an oscar

nomination and thrust her into the spotlight. but along with accolades came the realization that she needed to put her newfound fame to good use. >> my parents said to me you are a very lucky girl and you have a lot that you can do for over other people and you should do that. >> abigail was inspired by a charity called project sunshine. the group has helped over 100,000 children around the world who are facing medical challenges. >> project sunshine has their volunteers go into children's hospitals specifically and do arts and crafts with the children and music programs and tutoring and they also help the families. >> ♪ >> abigail stepped up and took a hands on role. she gave her time. visiting and getting to know children who are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

>> my favorite thing that i have done with project sunshine is going into the hospitals and meeting the kids. it's definitely one of the things where i have to mentally prepare heart breaking to see children living in a hospital. >> through the years, abigail has volunteered her time and taking part in events to support the group. she makes sure the work is about the kids and their families, not her. >> for me it's about going in and sitting down with the kids, playing music with them or you know, making arts and crafts and writing things out and just having fun with them so they can have a good day. [ applause ] >> i go to their rooms and hang out with them for a bit and talk. and usually it ends up just being me talking with some girl about boys for an hour and a half. and they're like you have to go and i want to tell one more

story. >> you are 14 years old -- >> in addition to her many acting roles, she stars in the television series scream queens. >> ♪ i bet you are going to hear this song -- >> she is also a singer/song writer. and often the kids in the hospitals are the first to hear her new material. >> one of my favorite things that happened was i played one of my songs that i wrote and they were not too impressed. one boy was like, i just really like bruno mars. well i do know how to play bruno mars. he gave me this letter he had written. he was like if you know demi lovato can you get this to her? okay, i'll try. >> abigail says no matter who she meets the courageous kids who are battling medical

hardships inspire her every time. when her friend was battling cancer she applied the lessons she learned from project sunshine to support her friend. >> one of my friends had leukemia since she was 14 until two years ago. when i visit her in the hospital she is like it's so nice to talk about normal things. and so that's what i think project sunshine does best. they've taught me -- these kids don't want to talk about being sick. >> abigail has worked for project sunshine for nearly a decade and has no plans to stop. and she says perhaps the best part of her breakout role as a child star in little miss sunshine was the introduction to the charity with a similar name. >> one of the most commonly asked question is are you trying to breakaway from the whole little miss sunshine image? i'm so proud of that movie and to have been a part of that

movie. and i'm so grateful for it. it did introduce me to project sunshine. i was able to become a part of that. i think it's about finding what it is you are passionate about and find that and research which programs and which organizations are, you know, best suited for you and then see how you can kind of help out. >> all three of these young actresses are committed to making a difference whether it's helping women in poverty stricken areas around the world or promoting cancer research and awareness or putting a smile on a child's face. these celebrities are showing us no matter how famous you are there is time to give back to those in need. thank you for tuning in tonight. if you want to see more of our heroes tune in sunday december 6th to cnn heroes an all-star tribute right here on cnn. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

for most of my life, libya was a word with bad associations. libya meant gadhafi. libya meant terrorism. >> pan am flight 103 went down in a blazing fireball. >> libya meant a bad place where a comical, megalomaniacal dictator was the absolute power. nobody in libya, however, was laughing. >> reports of explosions. >> clashes between rioters and security forces. >> in 2011, what was previously unthinkable happened. the libyan people rose up and fought for their freedom. >> heavy battles raging around the libyan capital. >> they fought like hell. >> the rebels are about to force gadhafi's complete departure.