List a humanitarian/charity effort

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.

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.

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 Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Thanksgiving night, November 25.

Viewers can go to CNNHeroes.com to participate in the poll, which continues through November 18 at 6 a.m. ET. The individual receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.

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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

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10 Celebrity-Related Charities

Celebrity endorsements help charities increase awareness of their endeavors and thus stimulate more donations. However, just because your favorite super-star supports a charity doesn't mean the charity is well-run and worthy of a contribution from you. Check out how we rate these 10 charities which are closely aligned, in some cases even named for, the celebrities that founded or support them.
Rank Charity Overall Rating Celebrity
1 Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research 4 Michael J. Fox
2 The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund 4 Paul Newman, Julia Roberts
3 New York Restoration Project 4 Bette Midler
4 The Children's Health Fund 4 Paul Simon, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony
5 Lance Armstrong Foundation 3 Lance Armstrong
6 The Larry King Cardiac Foundation 3 Larry King
7 USA for UNHCR 3 Angelina Jolie
8 Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation 2 Christopher Reeve
9 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International 1 Mary Tyler Moore
10 Operation Lookout 0 Dyan Cannon

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The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day. World Habitat Day 2010 will be held on October 4.

The purpose
World Habitat Day’s purpose is to call attention to the current global state of the human habitat and push toward adequate housing for all....

The 27th Carter Work Project will spearhead World Habitat Day events in six U.S. cities Oct. 3–8. Volunteers will join in building and rehabilitating houses with Habitat homeowner families, former President Carter and Mrs. Carter and other celebrities.

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The 2010 Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event. The Carters will join more than 1,000 volunteers in six U.S. cities over seven days to build and rehabilitate 86 houses.

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A video taken in August has just been released showing the dangerous rescue of a man who fell onto Metrorail tracks in a station outside Washington, according to The Washington Post.

After the man fell and appeared dazed, another man raced across two tracks, gingerly stepping on the cover of the electrified third rail.

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Health officials in Haiti and the United States have confirmed that an outbreak of cholera has killed more than 100 people and sent hundreds more to the hospital in a rural area of the earthquake-battered country.

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The World Health Organization said the virulent diarrheal disease, which had affected 1,526 people as of late Thursday, would be the first cholera epidemic in a century in the disaster-prone Caribbean nation, already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.........The Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies were rushing doctors, medical supplies and clean water to Saint-Marc in the Artibonite region, the outbreak zone north of Port-au-Prince. No cases were immediately reported in the crowded capital.

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.....Hundreds of individuals have RSVPed to Bag Childhood Hunger tomorrow. By participating, these Pledge Takers are committing to packing their lunch and donating what they otherwise would have spent on lunch to the No Kid Hungry Campaign. It’s not too late to get involved. RSVP to join them!

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UltraViolet said:

Helping your neighbor?

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Thanks for the thought, UV. Would it be fair to say that as a world citizen everyone is your neighbor?

A woman whose group has rescued more than 12,000 women and girls from sex slavery has been named the 2010 CNN Hero of the Year.

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In a special Thanksgiving edition of "This Week," some of the world's richest people sat down with Christiane Amanpour to talk about their extraordinary Giving Pledge -- a commitment to give the majority of their wealth away through philanthropy. Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Ted Turner and others delved into the meaning of philanthropy, their moral obligation to give back and the future of the country in which each of them reached the heights of prosperity.

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Kathryn said:

You may also text "japan" to 80888 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army for humanitarian aid to Japan. This donation will appear on your next cell phone bill.

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Cash is often the best primary form of donation in relief efforts, as the details of a disaster unfold. Governments and non-profit groups are then able to assess where non-monetary donations are needed, experts said on Monday during the Chamber's leadership center's press conference.

"So far, we have received many sympathies from around the world," said Sachio Muto, 1st Secretary with the Japanese Embassy in the U.S. "We are currently handling those offers of donations. One possibility is for [businesses] to go to the American Red Cross Web site, where there is an option to donate money, or another possibility is to go to USAID for their activities."

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