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And the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009 are ...

  • Story Highlights
  • Top 10 CNN Heroes revealed hourly on October 1 starting at 1 p.m. ET
  • "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" will celebrate work of this year's honorees
  • Anderson Cooper is the host of the global telecast on Thanksgiving, 9 p.m. ET
  • Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year at CNN.com/Heroes
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(CNN) -- A Texas native providing wheelchairs to disabled children in Iraq, an Army vet helping other veterans struggling with addiction and a cancer survivor bringing early detection to uninsured women are among the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009.

Anderson Cooper revealed one Top 10 CNN Hero each hour Thursday before an 11 p.m. "AC360" special.

Anderson Cooper revealed one Top 10 CNN Hero each hour Thursday before an 11 p.m. "AC360" special.

Brad Blauser's Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program has distributed nearly 650 free pediatric wheelchairs to children in need since 2005.

Roy Foster's Stand Down House has provided life-changing services to nearly 900 veterans since 2000.

And Andrea Ivory has helped provide more than 500 free breast cancer screenings in Miami, Florida.

Being a Top 10 CNN Hero "will mean taking the Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program to the next level," said Blauser. "I'll have more support and be able to continue my program giving away to kids that otherwise wouldn't have had them."

Foster said, "It's rather difficult to understand something that you love to do could have such [a] reward to it."

Ivory, referring to the $25,000 each of the Top 10 CNN Heroes receives, said, "We're going national! That's where the money is going. We need to help other women."

The Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009 -- remarkable individuals nominated by viewers for their sacrifices and accomplishments -- were announced Thursday on the global networks of CNN.

CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed one Top 10 CNN Hero at the top of each hour on CNN, CNN.com and CNN.com Live.

The daylong event, which began at 1 p.m. ET, culminated with a special edition of "AC360," profiling this year's honorees and their causes. "Change the World, You Vote, CNN Heroes" aired at 11 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN and CNN International.

The year 2009 marks CNN's third annual global search for everyday individuals changing the world. Since February, the network has aired weekly profiles of CNN Heroes, chosen from more than 9,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 100 countries.

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 such as retired four-star Gen. Colin Powell, philanthropist Wallis Annenberg and Sir Elton John.

In addition to the $25,000, each of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," airing from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood at 9 ET/PT on Thanksgiving night, November 26.

The global broadcast, with Cooper as the host, will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public in an online poll that began at 11 p.m. ET Thursday.

Viewers can go to CNN.com/Heroes to participate in the poll, which continues through November 19 at 6 a.m. ET. The individual receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.

Here are the Top 10 CNN Heroes, in order of their announcement Thursday:

Jorge Munoz
School bus driver Jorge Munoz is helping hungry New Yorkers make it through tough times. Since 2004, he has handed out more than 70,000 meals from his mobile soup kitchen in Queens -- for free.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Jordan Thomas
Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Budi Soehardi
Budi Soehardi founded a children's home in one of the poorest areas of Indonesia. Today, Roslin Orphanage in West Timor provides food, shelter and education to more than 45 children.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Betty Makoni
Zimbabwe native Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to provide a haven for young victims of sexual abuse. The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls since 2001.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Doc Hendley
Bartender Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine to Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Efren Peñaflorida
Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company's 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Derrick Tabb
Derrick Tabb started The Roots of Music to give young people an alternative to New Orleans' streets. His music education program provides free tutoring, instruments and music instruction to more than 100 students.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Roy Foster
Army veteran Roy Foster started Stand Down House to help veterans struggling with addiction and homelessness in Florida. Since 2000, his program has provided life-changing services to nearly 900 veterans.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Andrea Ivory
Breast cancer survivor Andrea Ivory is bringing early detection to the doorsteps of uninsured women. With mobile mammography vans, her group has provided more than 500 free screenings in Miami, Florida.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

Brad Blauser
Brad Blauser is providing hope and mobility to disabled children and their families in Iraq. Since 2005, his Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program has distributed nearly 650 free pediatric wheelchairs to children in need.
Full story | Video Video | Extra Video | How to help

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