Who are Giraffe heroes?

They're men, women and kids, and they're from many races, religions and backgrounds—all sticking their necks our for the common good. They're truck drivers, students, retirees, artists, waitresses, doctors, homemakers, business people and teachers.

Since 1982 the Giraffe Project has found over 900 of them, then told their stories in national and local media, and in schools — inspiring others to take on the challenges they see.

Giraffes are working on many different issues, from poverty to gang violence to environmental pollution. One element that's common to all of them is that they lead meaningful lives. Win, lose or draw they're living fully, giving their all. They know why they get up in the morning, why they do things that may be scary and difficult but must be done if their cause is to be served.

Our criteria for choosing Giraffes focus mainly on two questions: “Is there significant risk involved in what this person has done? And is it for the common good? In particular, the “sticking their necks out” factor means there’s an ongoing edge to what Giraffes do—something’s at risk for them. People who are fulfilling their job descriptions don’t make it through the Giraffe choosing process—the person has to be going above and beyond. People who are just famous, talented or gorgeous don’t make the cut either. Giraffes also tend to be involved in long-term efforts they’ve initiated, not one-time actions.

Since 1982 the Giraffe Project has found over 900 Giraffes.

What do Giraffe Heroes get from our work?

If you mean money, nothing—we don’t have any. We send each new Giraffe a commendation and a lifetime membership in the Project, and we ask permission to tell their story in our work with media and in the schools. Being written up in newspapers, magazines and books, and featured on radio and television, or talked about in classrooms has brought many Giraffes support from people who discover them.

We’ve also nominated Giraffes for cash awards from groups that do have money. Giraffes have received almost a million bucks this way—not the Giraffe Project—the money went directly to individual Giraffes. We still don’t have any.

Whether or not they achieve snippets of fame and fortune, Giraffes consistently tell us that the main benefit is to their spirits. Many of them have never been praised for what they do; some have even been vilified. It’s heartening to be told you’re a hero when you’ve been hearing you’re a fool.

Read the story of this month’s featured Giraffe.

Are you press or media? In addition to reading (and we hope using) Giraffe stories, you can read our Press FAQs.

Read more about criteria for Giraffedom here.     

Nominate a Giraffe here.