Anderson Cooper and CNN are seeking votes in their annual CNN Heroes competition. They have narrowed their list down to 10 finalists and want you to check them out and vote for the one hero you believe has made the most impact in making the world a better place.
CNN will announce the winner and air a special broadcast featuring the winner on Thanksgiving night. The winner will receive $100,000.
Here’s a brief rundown on the finalists:
Tad Agoglia started The First Response Team to provide immediate help to areas hit by natural disasters. Since May 2007, he and his crew have aided thousands of victims at 15 sites across the United States — free of charge.
Maria Da Silva has lost 14 family members to AIDS. Today, the Los Angeles nanny funds a school in her native Malawi — where half a million children have been orphaned by the disease.
Moved by the lack of children’s books and literacy in his native Ethiopia, Yohannes Gebregeorgis established Ethiopia Reads, bringing free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of Ethiopian children.
After serving time in prison, Carolyn LeCroy started The Messages Project to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. She and volunteer camera crews have taped roughly 3,000 inmate messages.
Anne Mahlum used to run by homeless men each morning. Today, she’s running with them, and others, as part of her Back On My Feet program in Philadelphia, Penn.
Liz McCartney is dedicated to helping Hurricane Katrina survivors in St. Bernard Parish, a community just outside New Orleans. Her nonprofit, St. Bernard Project, has rebuilt the homes of more than 120 families.
Growing up in Cambodia, Phymean Noun struggled to complete high school. Today, she offers hundreds of children who work in Phnom Penh’s trash dump a way out through free schooling and job training.
David Puckett started PIPO Missions to bring ongoing prosthetic and orthotic care to those in need. Since November 2000, he has helped more than 420 people in southeastern Mexico, free of charge.
Several times a week, Maria Ruiz of El Paso, Texas, crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico, bringing food, clothing and toys for hundreds of impoverished children and their families.
A group of failing schoolchildren in Kaolack, Senegal, once asked Viola Vaughn to help them pass their classes. Today, her 10,000 Girls program is helping girls succeed in school and learn business skills.
So, vote today. One of these heroes may someday be your hero!
Every week, we at Tonic News identify someone out in our huge world doing good and making a difference. We like to think that we all can be heroes and want the stories of these awesome people to inspire you. If you have nominations for our Tonic Generation’s Hero of the Week, please email Dan at dan[at]tonic.com.