Who Is Shirley Raines? | The US Sun

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CHARITY worker Shirley Raines has been named as CNN’s Hero of the Year.

Here’s everything you need to know about the beautician and why she’s been handed the prestigious award.

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Who is Shirley Raines?

Shirley Raines is the founder of Beauty 2 the Streetz – a non-profit organisation based in Los Angeles.

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The outdoor beauty salon, which has run since 2015, provides food, clothing, and hair and make-up services to thousands of homeless people in the Skid Row district.

She has also provided rape whistles, tents, sleeping bags, hygiene items and teamed up with local health officials to offer a range of essential services.

Raines reportedly first ran the pop up parlour with a small group of family and friends in the area – admitting that she “never wanted to leave”.

She told CNN: “Its (Skid Row) is a place where people have amazing hearts, but nobody can see it.

“It’s not so much just giving them make-up or doing their hair, it’s also the physical touch.”

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“People need physical touch.”

Raines later started livestreaming her events and posting pictures to Instagram, as she gained a larger following from professionals across the city.

CNN reported that licensed hair stylists, barbers, make-up artists and even big make-up companies reached out to Raines to offer their services.

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Later, during the the pandemic, she was responsible for supplying packed lunches to the homeless and – in tandem with the health department – providing masks, sanitizer, and other personal protection items.

As of 2021, she is reportedly offering food and supplies twice a week and expanding partnerships with local groups.

Why was she named CNN Hero of the Year?

Raines was presented with the CNN Hero of the Year award on Sunday. December 12, 2021 and will receive $100,000 to expand her work.

It came after voters online selected her as the top candidate from this year’s Top 10 CNN Heroes finalists.

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As she received her award, Raines thanked her children including her late son – who she says inspired her work.

Raines said: “This surely hasn’t been easy. I stand before you a very broken woman.

“I am a mother without a son and there are a lot of people in the streets without a mother – and I feel like it’s a fair exchange.”

“My sun didn’t come out for 30 years. It was 30 years’ worth of tomorrows before I even saw the break of day.

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“I would be lying if I said I was always completely happy from doing this. It didn’t take away the pain of my son dying.

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“But I’ve certainly gotten better. I can say his name now. He is the reason I do what I do.”