Top 10 CNN Hero: Elena Duron Miranda

Elena Duron Miranda helps children in Argentina get back into school.



Learn more about Petisos.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Patrice Millet

Patrice Millet helps children in Haiti through a youth soccer program.



Learn more.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Sal Dimiceli

Sal Dimiceli uses his non-profit, The Time is Now, to help individuals with food, rent, and other basic needs.




Learn more about The Time is Now.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Robin Lim

Robin Lim helps low-income women in Indonesia have a healthy birthing experience.



Learn more about how you can help.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Taryn Davis

Taryn Davis founded the American Widow Project, an organization that has supported over 900 military widows.




Learn more about the American Widow Project.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Diane Latiker

Diane Latiker started Kids Off the Block, a program that welcomes children in gang-violence-surrounded Chicago into a "peace place." Kids knock on the door, they are welcomed in.  




Learn more about Kids off the Block.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Eddie Canales

Eddie Canales founded Gridiron Heroes, an organization that supports teens who've suffered spinal cord injuries playing football.



Learn more about Gridiron Heroes.

Top 10 CNN Hero: Amy Stokes

Meet Amy Stokes. Amy connects children in South Africa to positive mentors via the internet.



Learn more about Amy's organization, Infinite Family.

2011 CNN Heroes

Every year since 2007, CNN has honored "everyday people changing the world."

Heroes from around the world are nominated and individuals vote to determine the Hero of the Year.

Meet the 2011 Heroes. The following days will profile the Top 10.

National Parks

Since 1916, The National Park Service have cared for the nearl 400 National Parks around the country.

From the National Park Service website:
National Park Service by the Numbers*

$48,000,000,000 incentivized in private historic preservation investment
11,700,000,000 visitors
$5,409,252,508 in preservation and outdoor recreation grants awarded
$2,750,000,000 annual budget
121,603,193 objects in museum collections
97,417,260 volunteer hours
84,000,000 acres of land
4,502,644 acres of oceans, lakes, reservoirs
2,482,104 volunteers
218,000 jobs supported in gateway communities
85,049 miles of perennial rivers and streams
68,561 archeological sites
43,162 miles of shoreline
28,000 employees
27,000 historic structures
2,461 national historic landmarks
582 national natural landmarks
400 endangered species
395 national parks
40 national heritage areas
1 mission: The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Visit a park near you!

KaBOOM!

The mission of KaBOOM! is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Save play space for children. Learn more!

Adopt a Dolphin

Through the Wild Dolphin Foundation, individuals can adopt a dolphin and help save a pod!

Outreach 360

Outreach 360 offers opportunities for individuals to volunteer in orphanages around the world year-round.

Girls Rock Camp Austin

A camp to empower women of all ages through music! Check out Girls Rock Camp - where girls go to rock!

Write a positive comment card

A good friend of mine recently told me about writing a positive comment card. A simple and respectable act!

Too often people are quick to see the flaws in something. Do we take enough time to share the good?

Next time you notice the good (and take the time to see it!) fill out a positive comment card - or equally as good, tell the person what a good job they are doing!

Green Chimneys

From the Green Chimneys website:
Green Chimneys is the nationally renowned, non-profit organization with a mission of restoring possibilities and creating futures for children with emotional, behavioral, social and learning challenges through educational, therapeutic and outreach services, while providing care for animals and nature, thereby promoting a philosophy of dignity and worth for all living things.

Cultural Canvas Thailand

The mission of Cultural Canvas Thailand is to generate awareness and volunteer support of the current social issues facing Chiang Mai, Thailand. We promote equality, community interaction, and social change through artistic outreach and volunteer services in conjunction with local organizations. CCT and our partner organizations focus on education and assistance in the following areas: HIV/AIDS, refugees, impoverished ethnic minorities, and sex workers.

Special Olympics

The Special Olympics offers youth and adults with various disabilities to participate in sports training and competition - and shapes lives in the process.

Learn more about the Special Olympics. Find a program near you.

Interesting fact: The next Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles, CA, in 2015! 

Youth Mentoring Connection

The mission of Youth Mentoring Connection is to awaken at-risk youth to their power, unique gifts and purpose by matching them with caring adult mentors and placing that “match” within a structured group dynamic that provides the resources youth need to reach productive, conscious adulthood.  We further seek to awaken society to the needs, promise and value of this overlooked population. 

The Children of 9/11

Gold Line

Traveling isn't always fun... the airport part, at least.

Tonight was no different.

Winding up a trip home, I did my very best to make the most of every moment with family. The cost? Cutting the check-in and security line time at the airport just a little bit short. Oops.

Thankfully, when I rushed the security man, I told him my flight departs in 35 minutes and if he could kindly let me to the front of the line. (I never have asked for this before, so I'm hoping this one time will prove to be worth all the other lines I've waited in.)

His response, "Go to the flight check-in desk and ask for the Gold Line." And ask I did.

The woman at the counter listened to my plea and easily stamped me straight to the Gold Line.

Right back into the fast track line - and made it to my flight in time.

Thanks to the airline workers for the Gold Line - and extra family time!

Sticky Bun on the House

I just discovered sticky buns. Like a cinnamon roll but without cinnamon, and sticky.

On a recent trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, Ellen and I stopped at a little bakery for a breakfast treat before a day of adventure. Our choice? The apple tart. Look how delicious!

But, with a new found love of the sticky bun, we couldn't resist two. I mean, we're on vacation and not in Bar Harbor very often so we must make the most of the experience and do our research of local foods. 

The best part? We ordered our sticky bun and the woman said, "the apple tart isn't cheap, so the sticky bun is on the house." 

DoSomething.Org

DoSomething.org uses the power of online to motivate teens to make a difference offline. Check out this awesome website to learn more about how teens are getting involved.

Support Nurses, Discover Nursing

A real-life nurse in a great spot to support nurses. Support your nurses! Discover Nursing!

Staples for Students

From July 3 - September 17, Staples customers can support Staples for Students. Customers can contribut $1 or the amount of their choice with all funds directly benefitting their local students.

Irish Treats!

One day I shared some extra cookies with a co-worker. Lucky me, I got way more in return!

This co-worker is part of an Irish powerhouse that called California home for the summer. As a thanks for sharing some cookies, this generous individual dropped me some goodies from a care package straight from Ireland! And, even better, they are the favorites of Irish locals!

Galaxy chocolate bar - you can taste the difference between American chocolate and Irish chocolate. I'm a believer, you can.

Meanies - although not a nice name, delicious. The locals say they are only a quarter a bag and therefore not a big deal, but these bags of chips are childhood (and adulthood, apparently!) favorites. And, I must admit, delicious!

Thanks to my Irish friend who so generously shared his Irish goods with me. And, he said, I didn't even have to share! (And I didn't...)

Vons - Help to End Hunger

One thing we may not realize is that donations to food banks drop dramatically over the summer.

To help bridge the gap, Vons supermarkets launched an "every bag counts" food drive over the summer, where customers can purchase a filled grocery bag for $10 to be donated to their local food bank. Filled bag includes pasta and sauce, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned fruits and veggies, and cereal - lots of different foods that food banks always need.

Thanks Vons, for helping us all to help end hunger!

Vitamin Angels

Essential nutrients, healthy children.

SOS Mentor

SOSMentor educates and motivates underserved youth in greater Los Angeles in healthy eating, fitness, and college and career planning through after school mentoring programs.

Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together: the nation's largest volunteer home repair organization in the country.