London, Nov 22 (IANS) Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Neil Patrick Harris awarded ordinary people who have made a difference in their communities at CNN’s Heroes gala ceremony.

People from across the globe were celebrated Saturday for their goodwill efforts as they were brought on stage at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles to receive awards from a host of celebrities, also including Greg Kinnear and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, reports imdb.com.

Also present at the occassion, former ‘James Bond’ Pierce Brosnan recalled his late wife Cassandra Harris, who died of ovarian cancer in 1991, while paying tribute to breast cancer survivor Andrea Ivory, who helps provide free screenings in Florida.

Eva Mendes awarded the Hero of the Year prize and a $100,000 grant to 21-year-old Efren Penaflorida, who founded a mobile pushcart program to distribute books to children in slums in his native Philippines.

Country sensation Carrie Underwood, R&B singer Maxwell and pop star Leona Lewis all performed at the event, which will air in the US on Thanksgiving Nov 26.