Skip to main content
Part of complete coverage on

And the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010 are ...

Click to play
CNN's Anderson Cooper announces the top 10 CNN Heroes for 2010.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010 revealed by CNN's Anderson Cooper on CNN.com
  • The top 10 will be honored at a tribute show hosted by Cooper airing Thanksgiving night
  • At the culmination of the show, Cooper will announce the CNN Hero of the Year

(CNN) -- A Scotsman providing free daily meals to 400,000 children, a former child soldier clearing land mines in Cambodia and a Texas builder giving injured vets mortgage-free homes are among the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010.

The top 10 -- remarkable individuals nominated by viewers for their sacrifices and accomplishments -- have been revealed by CNN's Anderson Cooper.

This year marks CNN's fourth annual global search for everyday individuals changing the world. Since January, the network has aired weekly profiles of CNN Heroes, chosen from more than 10,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 100 countries.

In their own words: The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010

A panel comprised of luminaries recognized for their own dedication to public service selected this year's top 10 CNN Heroes. The blue ribbon panel includes humanitarians, activists and philanthropists such as Muhammad Ali, Sir Richard Branson and Yo-Yo Ma.

Meet the blue ribbon panelists

In addition to receiving $25,000, each of this year's top 10 CNN Heroes will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," airing at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Thanksgiving night, November 25.

The global broadcast, hosted by Cooper at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public in an eight-week online poll.

Gallery: The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010
Gallery: Meet the Blue Ribbon Panel
Vote for your favorite CNN Hero
A CNN Hero, one year later
RELATED TOPICS

The individual receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.

Here are the top 10 Heroes of 2010, in alphabetical order:

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. Learn more about Guadalupe

Susan Burton was once caught in a cycle of addiction and incarceration. Today, her nonprofit A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides sober housing and other support services to formerly incarcerated women in California. Learn more about Susan

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

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. Learn more about Anuradha

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

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 400,000 children around the world. Learn more about Magnus

Harmon Parker is using his masonry skills to save lives. Since 1997 he has helped build 45 footbridges over perilous rivers in Kenya, protecting people from flash floods and predatory animals. The bridges also connect isolated villagers to valuable resources. Learn more about Harmon

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 unexploded weapons. Learn more about Aki Ra

Evans Wadongo, 23, invented a way for rural families in Kenya to replace smoky kerosene and firelight with solar power. Through his Use Solar, Save Lives program, he's distributed an estimated 10,000 solar lanterns for free. Learn more about Evans

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 five new custom homes under construction. Learn more about Dan