Heroes shine in Hollywood spotlight

"CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" will air Sunday night on CNN The live global telecast will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles The annual show honors the top 10 CNN Heroes of the year One will be named CNN Hero of the Year and receive $250,000 for their cause Editor's note: "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" will air live Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on CNN's global networks. You can also follow the show via live blog at CNN.com/Backstage. (CNN) -- Some of the most famous celebrities in the world, including actors, musicians and athletes, will join CNN on Sunday night to honor 10 everyday people making a difference in the world. These 10 people -- the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 -- will receive the red-carpet treatment and be formally recognized during a live telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. "They've empowered so many people and saved so many lives," said actor J.R. Martinez, who took part in last year's tribute show. "This program highlights the real heroes that we have in this world who said: 'You know what, there's a problem. But instead of complaining about the problem, we're going to create the solution.' " Each of the top 10 CNN Heroes receives a $50,000 grant to continue their life-changing work, whether it's helping child caregivers in Florida, rape victims in Haiti or schoolgirls in Afghanistan. Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that children in Nepal were living in prisons with their parents. In 2005, she started a children's center that has provided housing, education and medical care to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents. "I always had a dream to build our own home for these children, and I want to rescue more children who a re still in prisons," Basnet said. See more photos of Pushpa Basnet 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. "I started the Josh Project to keep other mothers from having to suffer such unforgettable loss," she said. See more photos of Wanda Butts Mary Cortani is a former Army dog trainer who started Operation Freedom 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. "I'm hoping this brings awareness to the world that PTSD is real and that we will be able to reach more veterans who so desperately need help," Cortani said. See more photos of Mary Cortani 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. "Teenage pregnancy is a world poverty problem, and we have developed models of intervention that break the cycle," Escobar said. "I want to share it with people around the world." See more photos of Catalina Escobar 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. "T his honor is a God-given gift that will make it possible for me to continue to give a ray of hope to these girls," Jan said. "My goal is to break the cycle of violence." See more photos of Razia Jan 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. "We're trying to give them the sense that everything is possible," he said. See more photos of Thulani Madondo 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. "We can change an apathetic culture of teen age drinking and driving," McCarthy said. "Hopefully one day soon we will not need Mariah's Challenge." See more photos of Leo McCarthy 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. "I can only believe that when more people understand about this preci ous population, they, too, will want to recognize and support them," Siskowski said. "These children suffer silently behind closed doors." See more photos of Connie Siskowski 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. "This is an opportunity to shine a light on individual stories of recovery and sobriety in a way that will help remove the shame and stigma that surrounds dependency and addiction," he said. See more photos of Scott Strode 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. "This encourages me to continue to fight on behalf of wome n and girls who are victims," she said. "I hope it brings about a change for my country." See more photos of Malya Villard-Appolon The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 The top 10 Heroes: In their own words Backstage pass at CNN Heroes At the end of Sunday night's show, one of the top 10 will be named CNN Hero of the Year and receive an additional $250,000. The Hero of the Year was chosen by a nine-week public vote that ended Wednesday on CNN.com. This is the sixth year of the CNN Heroes campaign. In that time, more than 180 CNN Heroes have been profiled on CNN, chosen from more than 45,000 nominations submitted through the CNN Heroes website. Each year, the campaign culminates with a live tribute show that brings together some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. The celebrities taking part in this year's show include movie stars Susan Sarandon, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Harvey Keitel and Josh Duhamel; athletes Jeff Gordon and Cullen Jones; and hip-hop artist 50 Cent. Television stars Rainn Wilson ("The Office"), Rico Rodriguez ("Modern Family"), Jane Lynch ("Glee"), Miranda Cosgrove ("iCarly") and David Spade ("Rules of Engagement") will also be participating. There will be two musical performances during the show. "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips will be performing "Home," and three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo will be singing "Heroes." "As we enter the season of giving thanks, we are grateful to these talented and caring entertainers who are joining us in this celebration of the human spirit," said Kelly Flynn, senior executive producer for the CNN Heroes initiative and "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." "We appreciate the time they're taking to raise awareness for the life-changing work of this year's CNN Heroes." Donate to a top 10 Hero's designated nonprofit, and Google will waive 100% of the transaction fees. Donate to your favorite 2012 Top 10 CNN Hero during the live All-Star Tribute Show Sunday night and Subaru will match every dollar donated up to $50,000. One hour before the tribute show, CNN will air a special presentation, "CNN Heroes: Sharing the Spotlight," that features exclusive interviews with Ne-Yo, actor Ben Stiller and model Christy Turlington Burns. In addition to receiving $50,000, this year's top 10 Heroes 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. "We have found that the most effective nonprofits are like the CNN Heroes -- organizations with strong and visionary leaders and a bold, new approach to getting the job done," said Wallis Annenberg, the foundation's president, CEO and chairman of the board. "Our hope is that in supporting them -- especially smaller nonprofits, still struggling to survive and to thrive -- we will help them get wider attention and become models across the world." Here are the top 10 Heroes of 2012, in alphabetical order: 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. CNN on the red carpet 2011: Lim wins Hero of the Year Ne-Yo: A better future for foster kids Stiller: Using your name for good Mary Cortani Mary Cortani is a former Army dog trainer who started Operation Freedom 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.