'Today I realize God chose me' - Hero of the Year awards given to 10 amazing people

'When I was a young boy, a doctor told my mom that I would amount to nothing.'

Jeison Aristizábal was born with cerebral palsy in one of Colombia's most impoverished districts. Defying the odds, he chose to follow the path Christ paved for him, rather than wallow in self-pity and waste his life away.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Aristizábal told CNN, "When I was a young boy, a doctor told my mom that I would amount to nothing."

Ignoring the comment, Aristizábal fought for independence. With help from his family, he overcame his disabilities and grew to be an advocate with his own foundation, born in his parents' garage.

From there, he entered law school and works to provide educational and medical support for Colombia's disabled youths.

In their tenth annual show, titled "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," ten amazing people were proclaimed the Hero of the Year.

The top ten heroes, chosen by audience vote over a period of six-weeks, is nominated for their "outstanding work [that] continues to best embody the spirit" of exhibiting heroic behavior.

Each hero will receive a $10,000 cash award, with donations made to their nonprofit organizations matched up to $50,000.

Aristizábal's foundation, ASODISVALLE - an acronym translating to Association of Disabled People of the Valley, offers free aid to over 1,000 disabled youths and their families.

During his acceptance speech Sunday, Aristizábal admitted he questioned why God would allow him to be born disabled and it was then he received his answer.

"Today I realized God chose me to help children with disabilities and their families and build a chain of dreams," Aristizábal stated. "I am about to graduate as a lawyer, and I want to do more to change my country's laws. Open your hearts and join this beautiful work, too. There are many children hoping for your support."

In closing, Aristizábal shared anyone who wants to make a difference should be unafraid to take the first step.

"Sometimes when we see a big problem, we feel like we can't do something," he explained. "But starting with the little things, helping fix the little things, we can transform many lives."

Craig Dodson
Craig Dodson, a semi-professional cyclist, founded the Richmond Cycling Corbs in 2010 for at-risk children.

In 2005, he spoke to a group of students from one of the city's roughest housing projects and attending the lowest-performing school.

Still, Dodson shared: "I walk in with my khakis and polo shirt. I start telling these kids, 'Don't do drugs and you can be just like me.' They just look at me like, 'You idiot. There's no bridge big enough to get me to where you are.'"

Since the experience, he knew he had to change the opinion of the forgotten kids who are subjected to the worst situations. He knew with enough work, even the roughest kid could shine.

"We're luring them in with a bike -- but (it's) not about giving kids positive life experiences through bikes. Our job is to get them out of public housing...There is a lot of trauma with these kids. We are like the Navy SEALs. We have to infiltrate and be there for every part of their life."

Sherri Franklin

Sherri Franklin was named a Hero of the Year after starting a nonprofit rescue for senior dogs from shelters called Muttville.

Since 2007, she has saved over 4,000 dogs.

"Most of them would end up getting euthanized," Franklin shared. "They didn't stand a chance compared to the puppies. I could feel their hope draining and my hope draining with them."

Each dog rescued by Muttville visits the in-house vet to be de-flead, dewormed, fully vaccinated and microchipped.

If they require further care, they do what it takes.

After receiving several calls from children who want to find an older, calmer dog for their aging parents, Franklin began matching senior dogs with senior citizens - even offering "Fospice," a hospice patient and terminally-ill dog are paired to spend their last days together.

Brad Ludden

Brad Ludden watched helplessly as his aunt fought cancer at only 38-years-old.

It was during this time he realized life is "really fleeting," so he began First Descents, a nonprofit bringing outdoor adventure to young adults fighting cancer.

"I have learned more from First Descents' participants than anything else in my entire life," Ludden shared. "I've learned how to be more vulnerable, the importance of laughter and to not just accept each day as it comes but to go out and define it."

When asked what he hopes to gain from the nonprofit, Ludden shared: "We infuse a lot of challenge and adventure, beautiful settings, laughter, great people and good food. But I think at the end, all that bundled together just represents a very large transformation in everyone's life.

"It's that important reminder that this life, it's really fleeting. The end is going to come sooner than we want. With that knowledge, we have this obligation to go out and live as fully as possible."

Luma Mufleh

Luma Mufleh is a small woman with a giant heart.

When refugees enter the United States, they face a culture shock like nothing natives can ever understand. They encounter language and social barriers, discrimination and difficulties with basic concepts.

Mufleh explained: "They've all seen horrible atrocities. They struggle because they've had little or no education. [They] struggle socially....They're struggling to fit in."

To help refugee children feel a sense of community and acceptance, she founded a soccer program and school called the Fugees Family.

The nonprofit helps kids on and off the soccer field, with special classes tailored specifically to meet refugee children's needs.

Since 2004, Fugees Family has helped over 850 children from 28 countries.

Umra Omar

Umra Omar left the United States to make a difference in health care in her homeland Kenya.

She founded Safari Doctors, a free medical service that travels by boat, road and air to offer healing in some of the most remote areas of the country.

"There is a lot of caution of, 'Why are you going here? You're not supposed to," Omar shared. "And as a woman running around pushing this project, it's like, 'Why do that? Why not just stay home, get taken care of.'"

Thirty-three-year-old Omar was raised in Kenya but made a life for herself in the United States. She earned two degrees and was working full-time in Washington D.C. but realized she was being called to her home country.

"When all is said and done, it feels like a lie to only work to get a paycheck," she admitted. "It was a kind of a sense of responsibility....Being here, being close to home, to be able to fill some of the gaps in accessing health care, it's kind of been an IV drip for life and purpose."

Georgie Smith

Georgie Smith founded A Sense of Home, which designs comfortable living spaces for former foster children in Los Angeles County.

"By setting up their first home, it gives them the foundation from which they can succeed," Smith explained, especially after she witnessed their living conditions.

"These kids has such resilience and are so inspiring. They are so incredibly positive and hopeful. I just feel it's incumbent on us -- the community -- to be their village."

Sheldon Smith
Sheldon Smith grew up without the presence of a father. He eventually went to prison for robbery and upon his release knew what he had to do.

He had to stay in his own child's life and encourage others to follow suit.

Smith founded the Dovetail Project, a group to teach young fathers the life skills necessary to help them grow into responsible adults and positive role models for their children.

"My goal when I started the Dovetail Project was to break the cycle," Smith explained. "The statistics tell us when fathers are in the household, children are less likely to be involved in very dangerous things, have early teen pregnancy, things of that nature.

"...The thing I love most about the Dovetail Project is that it's not a mandatory program. So these young men are really volunteering to get the help and support that they need. We give them the opportunity to talk about the things that are bothering them emotionally, to vent and let those things off their chest and give them advice so they can move forward to be great dads."

Becca Stevens
Becca Stevens is an episcopal priest who has been called to help the women of Nashville who have survived and escaped prostitution, addition and human trafficking.

Her nonprofit, Thistle Farms, runs five residential communities, where victims can live for two years while receiving free medical care, counseling and other services.

"None of the women ended up on the streets by themselves," Stevens explained. "And so it makes sense that it takes a community to welcome them home."

Through Thistle Farms, over 200 women have learned the skills and received the help they need to live their lives.

In 2001, Stevens and a few residents began to make bath and body care products. Today, Thistle Farms is a $2 million company employing over 75 people - two-thirds of whom graduated the residential program.

"The women have build the business," Stevens stated. "They run sales, accounting, manufacturing, shipping, and they keep growing the company so that more women can come through and be part of it.

"From the healing oils that waft through the air to the spirit of resilient women, it is inspiring work."

Harry Swimmer
Harry Swimmer met a beautiful young woman named Stacy, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

Swimmer saw the wheelchair-bound girl, who was nonverbal and deaf, and was inspired.

"I wondered what might happen if I put her on a horse," he shared.

He had Stacy and her grandmother visit his farm, where he helped her ride a pony.

"She just lit up like a candle," Swimmer recalled. "That's when I knew what I wanted to do."

Shortly after the experience, he retired from his insurance position and joined forces with his wife to create a nonprofit for children with special needs.

Swimmer's organization, Mitey Riders, offers free, certified equine-assisted therapy to young people with disabilities.

"Horses are very special animals," Swimmer explained. "[They] are attuned to these children. ...These children come to me with all kinds of disabilities. Some come to us as young as 5 years old and grow up out here with us.

"Mitey Riders is a place where they can come and be themselves, and be with other children just like them. They bond with each other. They bond with their horses. And besides the fun, it is therapy for them.

"The gait of a horse moves forward and backwards, side to side and up and down. When a child rides a horse they're getting feedback from the natural movement of the horse's body, and that strengthens their core.

"I have had children take their first steps from our program when they weren't able to stand or walk before. I've had children riding with me who became verbal when they were nonverbal. And I've also had children who have left me and gone off to college, graduate and done wonderful things."

Needless to say, each of this year's ten Heroes of the Year have more than earned the award, which also comes with free organizational training from the Annenberg Foundation, a supporter of nonprofits around the world.

The Heroes can participate in a customized version of the Annenberg Alchemy program, which offers practical guidance to help organizations reach long-term success.

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