Posted by Helen on: 11.18.2008 /
Maria Ruiz is one of CNN’s top ten heroes this year
El Paso native Maria Ruiz knows firsthand how different life can be a mere 30-minute drive south of her Texas home.
The sight of families living in homes made of wooden pallets pushed Maria Ruiz into action.
“Just by crossing the border, you’re in a Third World country,” Ruiz said.
For 12 years, she’s traveled several times a week to the outskirts of Juarez, Mexico, bringing aid to hundreds of impoverished children and their families.
read more about how Maria is helping people
Maria and her family are building a community kitchen with space to feed 500, an orphanage for 100 residents and a trade school. They work on the complex every weekend, and although there’s more to do, they’re hoping to be open this summer.
You can vote for Maria as CNN’s Hero of the Year. You can vote as many times as you like. Voting ends Thursday at 6 a.m. The CNN hero with the most votes will win $100,000. If Maria wins the money, it will enable them to finish the community center and provide an operating budget for it.
Also, Jim wants you to vote for her and it’s his birthday today – it would be a good birthday present :-)
Comment by: martin gugino
1Feed my sheep.
Comment by: Helen
2Evidently Maria Ruiz didn’t win but I was pleased to see all the finalists received $25,000.