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. Read the rest of this entry »
11-18-2008 |
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