CNN's Top 10 Heroes of 2013 campaign, which culminated in a gala presentation, is a celebration recognizing everyday people who are changing the world. Through a global nomination and voting process, that ended on 17 November, Chad Pregracke, an Illinois man who has dedicated his life to cleaning the Mississippi River and other U.S. waterways, was named the 2013 CNN Hero of the Year on Tuesday night.

Pregracke organizes community cleanups across the country through his nonprofit, Living Lands & Waters. About 70,000 volunteers have pitched in, helping Pregracke collect more than 7 million pounds of trash in the past 15 years.