CNN Top 10 Heroes [Vote link]

VOTE FOR INDIAN


[NARAYANAN KRISHNAN, INDIAN]



I really like CNN's Heroes  [Videos] competition. It is a sign of the interest in good causes the national media have taken in recent years. I also like it because it honors a specific person, who is often the founder of a nonprofit, and his/her commitment, despite great odds, to helping others.



CNN Heroes [Videos] cannot nominate themselves for this recognition. But rather, someone else who admires the person or organization or cause must do the nominating. All qualifying Heroes receive a lot of promotion through CNN and, in addition, generally receive a lot of attention from their own hometown media.

In 2010, the fourth year of the Heroes program, CNN received more than 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries. Many of these have been spotlighted during the year on the cable channel. A panel of judges then picked the top ten Heroes. Top 10 CNN Heroes are featured on CNNheroes.com - online voting by the public will determine the CNN Hero of the Year.

All Top 10 CNN Heroes will each receive $25,000 and will be honored at CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper that will air on Thanksgiving, November 25th at 8pmET/5pm PT from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. At the November gala, CNN will reveal the CNN Hero of the Year, who will receive an additional $100,000.

Here is the list of the 2010 Top 10 CNN Heroes [VIDEO]:

GUADALUPE ARIZPE DE LA VEGA

EL PASO, TX:

Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega founded a hospital in Juarez, Mexico that cares for about 900 people daily, regardless of their ability to pay. Despite the escalating violence in the city, the 74 year-old travels there several times a week to make sure residents get the care they need.

SUSAN BURTON

LOS ANGELES, CA:

Susan Burton was once caught in a cycle of addiction and incarceration, but she now provides sober housing and support to formerly incarcerated women in California. To date, her non-profit, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, has helped more than 400 women get back on their feet.

LINDA FONDREN

VICKSBURG, MS:

With her weight-loss challenge, Shape Up Vicksburg, Linda Fondren is helping her Mississippi hometown banish the bulge. Through the group's free fitness activities and nutrition classes, residents have lost nearly 15,000 pounds to date.

ANURADHA KOIRALA

KATHMANDU, NEPAL:

Anuradha Koirala is fighting to prevent the trafficking and sexual exploitation of Nepal's women and girls. Since 1993, she and her group, Maiti Nepal, have helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 12,000 victims.

NARAYANAN KRISHNAN


MADURAI, INDIA: VOTE FOR INDIAN


Narayanan Krishnan brings hot meals and dignity to India's homeless and destitute 365 days a year - through his nonprofit Akshaya Trust. Since 2002, he has served more than 1.2 million meals.

MAGNUS MACFARLANE - BARROW

ARGYLL, SCOTLAND:

Since 1992, Magnus MacFarlane - Barrow has dedicated his life to helping people in need. Today, his program, Mary's Meals - run from a tin shed in the Scottish highlands - provides free daily meals to more than 40,000 children around the world.

HARMON PARKER

LEXINGTON, KY:

Harmon Parker is using his masonry skills to save lives. Since 1997, he's built 45 footbridges over Kenya's perilous rivers, protecting people from flash floods and predatory animals. The bridges built by his organization, Bridging the Gap, also connect isolated communities with valuable resources.

AKI RA

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA:

Aki Ra is helping to make his native Cambodia safer by clearing land mines, many of which he planted years ago as a child soldier. Since 1993, he and his Cambodian Self Help Demining organization have cleared about 50,000 mines and unexpected weapons.

EVANS WADONGO

NAIROBI, KENYA:

Evans Wadongo invented a way for rural families in Kenya to replace smoky kerosene and fire light with solar power. Through his Use Solar, Save Lives program, he's distributed an estimated 10,000 solar lanterns, for free.

DAN WALLRATH

HOUSTON, TX:

Since 2005, Texas home builder Dan Wallrath has given injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans homes of their own mortgage free. He and his Operation Finally Home team have built nine new custom homes and currently have ten more planned or under construction.


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