Vote for CNN's "Hero of the Year"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/cnn.heroes/index.html

Tad Agoglia (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.)

Marie Da Silva (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.)

Yohannes Gebregeorgis (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.)

Carolyn LeCroy (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 (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, Pennsylvania.)

Liz McCartney (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.)

Phymean Noun (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 (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.)

Maria Ruiz (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.)

Viola Vaughn (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.)

[jtrockville]

1. They're all mighty deserving. Thanks for posting this.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. You're welcome...it seemed like a good day for balance and perspective.

No matter how out-of-control things get in the world, there are always "unseen" people doing the decent thing.

:patriot:

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Can we nominate one of our own?

Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-evict9-2008oct09,0,2709026.story)

[lpbk2713]

4. Seems like they could have included Paul Newman

Not that the others aren't deserving of recognition, but Newman helped thousands of kids and other disadvantaged people and donated millions of dollars to charitable organizations in his lifetime just because he thought it was the right thing to do. RIP Paul.