Since being named the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year, Stephen Knight and his nonprofit have expanded their work fostering pets while their owners focus on addiction recovery. And his life-saving mission has spread from Texas to the rest of the world.

Texas

Stephen Knight, recently named the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year, leads Dogs Matter, a nonprofit that fosters pets for individuals in addiction recovery. The organization has experienced a surge in applications and expanded its reach internationally, with new partnerships and increased support from recovery centers.

Dogs Matter has also introduced innovative programs, such as the Bark Dorm, which allows incarcerated youth to work with foster dogs, positively impacting both the animals and the participants. Over its ten years of operation, the nonprofit has saved thousands of lives and continues to grow, now being recognized and implemented in communities worldwide.

How this foster program has saved thousands of lives

And the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year is Stephen Knight. When Anderson and Laura announced it, I just, I got emotional. To be able to help others and have a purpose now, I'm so overwhelmed. I feel like I kind of was crowned like a Miss America. We'll call it Mr. America or Mr. Universe because it's been a global thing. I've had opportunities to talk about dogs matter. From Dubai to Australia, we had 150% increase of applications. We were able to bring on two more recovery coaches. It introduced us to the Elevate Prize Foundation. We became part of their family, changing the world with these leaders. Thank you for talking about that. It's perfect timing. We're looking to scale up. It's no secret I was rooting for you. Dr. Kwan from the year before me. Our missions are so complimentary. We're in the beginning stages of planning a Project Street Vet in Dallas and Dogs Matter in LA. Hi guys. How cute are you? The other thing is more recognition. We got treatment centers in Texas said, hey, we'll take dogs. Bye Jack. A lot of those dogs, all they need is a second chance. It's like I was given. One of my favorite programs that we have now is called the Bark Dorm, where these kids that are serving time have an opportunity to work with one of our dogs and it's really been life-changing for some of the kids. It motivated me to be better. Okay, yeah, that's what it's all about. Dogs Matter, we're in our 10th year. We've saved thousands and thousands of lives. It's been incredible. You're celebrating, you're sober. It's a night and day difference. This is a picture of survival. Very few people in this world have inspired me the way that Steven did. Isn't it cool? Yeah, that's awesome, I love that. Yeah. To be able to know that this little program that I did in my backyard 10 years ago is now being considered worldwide and people are going, I need this, we need this. That's the best thing ever. It's just like, what a privilege and an honor.

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