ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING EXTRA ORDINARY THINGS

Anderson Cooper , host to the show

D Xtra Ordinary  Faces

ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING XTRA ORDINARY THINGS

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an annual television special created by CNN to honour individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid. Hosted by Anderson Cooper, it started in 2007 and continues now, with the awards show aired at the end of the year. Over the course of a year, viewers can nominate and vote for the heroes they want to nominate for recognition.

Nominations for 2013 CNN Heroes are being accepted ONLINE through August 31, 2013.

(CNN) -- It's often said that just one person can make a difference, and CNN Heroes -- everyday people changing the world -- are evidence of that.

But these outstanding men and women would not have received this honor without doing some impactful. When you look closely, you will notice that these nominees are just ordinary people doing extra ordinary things.

Oh wait…are you thinking of nominating someone? Before you do that…wait a minute, because we are thinking of no one else but you. How? We want you to think in the line of the hero that you are…just do those extra ordinary things…help someone, motivate someone, and make a difference. And by doing so you are living the HERO in you.

Let’s consider the top of the CNN Heroes for 2012.

Pushpa Basnet:
Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that many children in Nepal have to live in prisons with their parents. In 2005, she started a children's center that has provided support, such as housing, education and medical care, to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents.

Wanda Butts:
Wanda Butts lost her son in a drowning accident six years ago. In his memory, she started the Josh Project, a nonprofit that taught nearly 1,200 children -- most of them minorities -- how to swim.

Mary Cortani:
Mary Cortani is a former Army dog trainer who started Operation Freedoms Paws, a nonprofit that helps war veterans train their own service dogs. Since 2010, she has worked with more than 80 veterans who have invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Catalina Escobar:
Catalina Escobar is helping young moms in Colombia, where one in five girls age 15-19 is or has been pregnant. Since 2002, her foundation has provided counseling, education and job training to more than 2,000 teenage mothers.

Razia Jan:
Razia Jan is fighting to educate girls in rural Afghanistan, where terrorists will stop at nothing to keep them from learning. She and her team at the Zabuli Education Center are providing a free education to about 350 girls, many of whom wouldn't normally have access to school.

Thulani Madondo:
Thulani Madondo struggled as a child growing up in the slums of Kliptown, South Africa. Today, his Kliptown Youth Program provides school uniforms, tutoring, meals and activities to 400 children in the community.

Leo McCarthy:
In memory of his daughter, who was killed by a drunken driver in 2007, Leo McCarthy started Mariah's Challenge. The nonprofit gives college scholarships to teenagers who pledge not to drink while they're underage. Nearly $150,000 in scholarship money has been awarded.

Connie Siskowski:
Connie Siskowski is helping young people who have to take care of an ill, disabled or aging family member. Since 2006, her nonprofit has provided assistance to more than 550 young caregivers in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Scott Strode:
After beating his addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott Strode found support through sports. Since 2007, his nonprofit, Phoenix Multisport, has provided free athletic activities and a sober support community to more than 6,000 participants in Colorado.

Malya Villard-Appolon:
Malya Villard-Appolon is a rape survivor dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence in Haiti. In 2004, she co-founded KOFAVIV, an organization that has helped more than 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and/or legal aid.

In addition to receiving $50,000 for being a top 10 CNN Hero, this year's group will also receive free training from the Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide. Each Hero will receive a customized version of the Annenberg Alchemy program, which provides practical guidance on fundraising, communications, management and much more.

The Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment.