A message of thanks from Malala

Malala Yousafzai, 15, reads a book on November 7 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, where she is being treated after being shot by the Taliban in her native Pakistan in October. See photos of the global rally behind Malala. Malala talks with her father, Ziauddin, on November 7 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She was attacked for advocating for girls' education in Pakistan. Pakistani hospital workers carry Malala on a stretcher on October 9 after she was shot in the head by the Taliban in Mingora. Malala recovers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on October 19 after being treated. Malala sits up in bed on October 25 after surgery for a gunshot wound to the head. In a CNN interview in late 2011, Malala said the Taliban thrive on ignorance, and she is defiant about her mission, saying, "where in the Koran does it say that girls should not be educated?" Malala Yousufzai says thank you for "the outpouring of love and support" She is recovering in Britain after being shot by Taliban gunmen in Pakistan Her father says she is walking and reading books She expresses commitment to the cause of promoting girls' education (CNN) -- Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has expressed gratitude to the people around the world who have supported her as she recovers from the traumatic attack. "Thank you so much for the outpouring of love and support," Malala said in a message read by Anderson Cooper at the CNN Heroes ceremony in Los Angeles. "I thank the people that supported me without distinguishing religion and color." She is now at a hospital in Britain, where she was transferred to soon after the assassination attempt in northwestern Pakistan in October. Examinations there revealed that she had suffered no major neurological damage, but she still faces a long struggle to recover from her injuries. Gordon Brown supports Malala's message Malala continues her recovery Malala, who for years has been campaigning for girls' right to education in a conservative area of Pakistan, is reading books and walking in the hospital in the city of Birmingham, according to her father, Ziauddin Yousufzai. Her story generated a huge amount sympathy and support in Pakistan and across the globe. The Pakistani Taliban have threatened to go after her again, but Malala appears to be undeterred from her campaigning. "People have actually supported a cause, not an individual," she said in her message. "Let's work together to educate girls around the world." CNN's Kyle Almond and journalist Nasir Habib contributed to this report.

Pulling children out of Nepal's prisons

In Nepal, many children have little choice but to live in prison with their incarcerated parents Fortunately, more and more are finding special homes like the one run by Pushpa Basnet Basnet also operates a day care in Kathmandu for children under 6 years old Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2013 CNN Heroes Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- Pushpa Basnet doesn't need an alarm clock. Every morning, the sounds of 40 children wake her up in the two-story home she shares with them. As she helps the children dress for school, Basnet might appear to be a housemother of sorts. But the real story is more complicated. All of these children once lived in Nepal's prisons. This 28-year-old woman has saved every one of them from a life behind bars. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world -- according to UNICEF, 55% of the population lives below the international poverty line -- so it lacks the social safety net that exists in most Western nations. Space is extremely limited in the few children's homes affiliated with the government. So when no local guardian is available, an arrested parent often must choose between bringing their children to jail with them or letting them live on the streets. Nepal's Department of Prison Management estimates 80 children live in the nation's prisons. "It's not fair for (these) children to live in the prison because they haven't done anything wrong," said Basnet, who started a nongovernmental organization to help. "My mission is to make sure no child grows up behind prison walls." Basnet is one of several in Nepal who have started groups to get children out of prison. Since 2005, she has assisted more than 100 children of incarcerated parents. She runs a day care program for children under 6 and a residential home where mostly older children receive education, food, medical care and a chance to live a more normal life. Since 2005, Pushpa Basnet has assisted more than 100 children of incarcerated parents. "I had a very fortunate life, with a good education," Basnet said. "I should give it to somebody else." Basnet was just 21 when she discovered her calling, she said. While her family ran a successful business, she was studying social work in college. As part of her studies, she visited a women's prison and was appalled by the dire conditions. She also was shocked to discover children living behind bars. One baby girl grabbed Basnet's shawl and gave her a big smile. "I felt she was calling me," Basnet said. "I went back home and told my parents about it. They told me it was a normal thing and that in a couple of days I'd forget it. But I couldn't forget." Basnet decided to start a day care to get incarcerated children out from behind the prison walls. While her parents were against the idea at first -- she had no job or way to sustain it financially -- eventually they helped support her. But prison officials, government workers and even some of the imprisoned mothers she approached doubted that someone her age could handle such a project. "When I started, nobody believed in me," Basnet said. "People thought I was crazy. They laughed at me." But Basnet was undaunted. She got friends to donate money, and she rented a building in Kathmandu to house her new organization, the Early Childhood Development Center. She furnished it largely by convincing her parents that they needed a new refrigerator or kitchen table; when her parents' replacement would arrive, she'd whisk the old one to her center. Saved from a life behind bars Just two months after she first visited the prison, Basnet began to care for five children. She picked them up at the prison every weekday morning, brought them to her center and then returned them in the afternoon. Basnet's program was the first of its kind in Kathmandu; when she started, some of the children in her care had never been outside a prison. Two years later, Basnet established the Butterfly Home, a children's home where she herself has lived for the past five years. While she now has a few staff members who help her, Basnet is still very hands on. "We do cooking, washing, shopping," she said. "It's amazing, I never get tired. (The children) give me the energy. ... The smiles of my children keep me motivated." Coordinating all of this is no easy task. But at the Butterfly Home, the older kids help care for the younger ones and everyone pitches in with household chores. The atmosphere feels like an extremely large family, a feeling that's fostered by Basnet, who smothers the children with love. The children reciprocate by calling her "Mamu," which means "Mommy." "I don't ever get a day off, but if I [didn't] have the children around me, it would be hard," she said. "When I'm with them, I'm happy." Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2013 CNN Heroes All the children are at the Butterfly Home with the consent of the imprisoned parent. When Basnet hears about an imprisoned child, she'll visit the prison -- even in remote areas of the country -- and tell the parent what she can provide. If the parent agrees, Basnet brings the child back. She is still eager, however, for the children to maintain relationships with their parents. During school holidays, she sends the younger children to the prisons to visit, and she brings them food, clothing and fresh water during their stay. Ultimately, Basnet wants the families to reunite outside prison, and 60 of her children have been able to do just that. My life would have been dark without (Pushpa). I would've probably always had a sad life. Laxmi, 14 years old Parents like Kum Maya Tamang are grateful for Basnet's efforts. Tamang has spent the last seven years in a women's prison in Kathmandu. When she was convicted on drug charges, she had no other options for child care, so she brought her two daughters to jail with her. When she heard about Basnet's program, she decided to let them go live with her. "If Pushpa wasn't around, (they) could have never gotten an education ... (they) would have probably had to live on the streets," she said. "I feel she treats (them) the way I would." Tamang's oldest daughter, Laxmi, said she can't imagine life without Basnet. "My life would have been dark without her," said Laxmi, 14. "I would've probably always had a sad life. But now I won't, because of Pushpa." In 2009, Basnet started a program to teach the parents how to make handicrafts, which she sells to raise money for the children's care. Both mothers and fathers participate. It not only gives them skills that might help them support themselves when they're released, but it also helps them feel connected to their children. "Often, they think that they're useless because they're in prison," Basnet said. "I want to make them feel that they are contributing back to us." Making ends meet is always a struggle, though. The children help by making greeting cards that Basnet sells as part of her handicraft business. In the past, she has sold her own jewelry and possessions to keep the center going. Her biggest concern is trying to find ways to do more to give the children a better future. She recently set up a bank account to save for their higher educations, and one day she hopes to buy or build a house so they'll always have a place to call home. Their happiness is always foremost in her thoughts. "This is what I want to do with my life," she said. "It makes me feel (good) when I see that they are happy, but it makes me want to work harder. ... I want to fulfill all their dreams." Want to get involved? Check out the Early Childhood Development Center website at www.ecdcnepal.org and see how to help. CNN's Sumnima Udas contributed to this report.

Coast Guardsman dies after boat attack

Coast Guardsmen spot a suspicious panga boat near Santa Cruz Island, California Suspicious boat speeds up and hits a small Coast Guard boat, sending two overboard One of those Coast Guardsmen dies of a traumatic head injury The suspect boat is later interdicted, and two people are detained (CNN) -- A Coast Guardsman died Sunday after a "suspicious" boat rammed his small vessel off the coast of Southern California, an official said. Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne was one of two Coast Guard members thrown off their cutter's small boat when the suspect's panga-style vessel "suddenly increased speed and maneuvered directly" at them, then struck the boat, said Capt. James Jenkins. Having a traumatic head injury, Horne was pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel upon his arrival on shore at Port Hueneme. "Chief Petty Officer Horne was an outstanding Coast Guard member," Jenkins said. "And he gave his life in service, enforcing the laws of this nation." The crew of a Coast Guard patrol aircraft spotted the panga-style boat near Santa Cruz Island, suspecting "it was engaged in illegal activity," said Jenkins, who did not elaborate on the type of activity. A panga is a work boat often used off the coast of Mexico or Central America that is engine-powered and typically 25 to 45 feet in length, the Coast Guard captain explained. The aircraft's crew alerted the captain of the Cutter Halibut, an 87-foot patrol boat, which headed to the scene and noticed the panga "operating with no lights." A small boat was dispatched from the Halibut and headed closer to the suspect vessel. Then, the panga accelerated and hit the small boat, forcing Horne and another Coast Guard member overboard. Two Coast Guard colleagues on the same small boat "quickly" recovered their shipmates, and all four boarded the Halibut as it headed to the nearest port. The other Coast Guardsman tossed overboard was treated and released later Sunday morning from a hospital after suffering "relatively minor injuries," Jenkins said. The panga boat fled the scene but was later interdicted by a different Coast Guard boat and helicopter, he added. Two people were then detained, the Coast Guard said in a news release, without specifying any charges. "The Coast Guard, along with its law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level, are actively working to make sure all of the individuals who are involved with this illegal activity are brought to justice," Jenkins said.

How to donate to a top 10 Hero

The top 10 CNN Heroes are tackling important issues, and they need your help You can donate to their causes through Google, which is waiving all transaction fees Editor's note: Join CNN and many celebrities in recognizing everyday people changing the world. will air live Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on CNN's global networks. Tune in to see who will be named CNN Hero of the Year! (CNN) -- This year's top 10 CNN Heroes are working hard to make a difference in the world, and you can help by donating to their causes through Google. Google is waiving all transaction fees so that each Hero's designated nonprofit gets 100% of the funds. These donations are also tax-deductible in the United States. To learn more about each nonprofit and where your money would go, here are the top 10 Heroes in alphabetical order: Pushpa Basnet Nonprofit: Early Childhood Development Center What it does: Gives dozens of children in Nepal a place to live while their parents are incarcerated. Many children in Nepal actually have to live behind bars with their parents because there's nowhere else to go and there isn't an adequate social safety net. Basnet's group also provides a day care program for young children who live in prison. Basnet says: "I hope that ECDC is soon able to expand its services so that it is able to accommodate more children who are still living behind prison walls. ... We are working to rescue them and give them a better life." Donate to the Early Childhood Development Center Wanda Butts Nonprofit: The Josh Project What it does: Provides low-cost swimming lessons for hundreds of children in Toledo, Ohio. Most of the children in the program are minorities like Butts, who lost her 16-year-old son because he didn't know how to swim. Statistics show that minority children in the United States are more likely to drown than white children. Butts says: "Our objective is to change the drowning statistics. Drowning is preventable if you know the rules. Awareness, education and knowledge are key. That was something I did not have." Donate to the Josh Project Mary Cortani Nonprofit: Operation Freedom Paws What it does: Helps U.S. war veterans train their own service dogs. Many Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are suffering from invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and some of them are finding it easier to cope thanks to canine companions. Cortani says: "Being a veteran myself, I understand loss of purpose, the mission. Training their own service dog gives them that and more. It gives them a shot at a quality life again." Donate to Operation Freedom Paws Catalina Escobar Nonprofit: Juan Felipe Gomez Escobar Foundation What it does: Provides counseling, education and job training to more than 2,000 teenage mothers in Colombia, where one in five girls age 15-19 is or has been pregnant. The group also runs a medical center that has brought health care to tens of thousands of children whose families couldn't otherwise afford it. Escobar says: "I want my girls to be empowered. Earning money provides them with independence and allows them to gain back control of their lives." Donate to the Juan Felipe Gomez Escobar Foundation Razia Jan Nonprofit: Razia's Ray of Hope What it does: Operates a free school for girls in Afghanistan, where many terrorists will stop at nothing to keep girls from getting an education. There were at least 185 documented attacks on schools and hospitals in Afghanistan last year, according to the United Nations. The majority were attributed to armed groups opposed to girls' education. Jan says: "It took a lot of determination and courage to build the first girls school in an area where the girls did not count. Now, with hard work, I have proven to the men of seven villages surrounding the school that this is the best thing that's happened for their daughters." Donate to Razia's Ray of Hope Thulani Madondo Nonprofit: Kliptown Youth Project What it does: Provides academic support, including tutoring, meals and school uniforms, to 400 children who live in the slums of Kliptown, South Africa. Kliptown has long suffered from high rates of unemployment, crime and school dropouts. Madondo says: "(We) want to break the poverty cycle that has existed for many decades. This will be done through formal and nonformal education, where people will be empowered in things they are good at. ... We believe that if people are guided to what they are interested in, that is setting them up for success." Donate to the Kliptown Youth Program Leo McCarthy Nonprofit: Mariah's Challenge What it does: Gives college scholarships to teenagers who pledge not to drink while they're underage. Nearly $150,000 in scholarship money has been awarded by the group, which started after McCarthy's 14-year-old daughter Mariah was killed by an underage drunken driver in Butte, Montana. McCarthy says: "I want this to be a platform for people to say: 'OK, I don't want to be like that guy who killed Mariah. But I need some help, because I'm getting group pressure.' ... I'm not asking you to say no to drugs. I'm asking you to say yes to yourself and a life of simple self-respect." Donate to Mariah's Challenge Connie Siskowski Nonprofit: American Association of Caregiving Youth What it does: Supports young people who have to take care of an ill, disabled or aging family member. Since 2006, the group has provided assistance to more than 550 young caregivers in Palm Beach County, Florida. Siskowski says: "We're not advocating that children should do this or be in this position, but they are. So we want to make it as safe as possible and arm them with the knowledge base that they need." Donate to the American Association of Caregiving Youth Scott Strode Nonprofit: Phoenix Multisport What it does: Provides free athletic activities and a sober support community to more than 6,000 participants in Colorado. It offers dozens of programs every week, from casual walks and yoga to mountain biking and ice climbing. Strode says: "Phoenix Multisport prides itself on our ability to help recovering addicts and alcoholics repair their self-esteem. Many of us in recovery had our dreams stripped away during our alcohol and drug use. The Phoenix Multisport community helps give those dreams back through standing on top of mountains and crossing finish lines." Donate to Phoenix Multisport Malya Villard-Appolon Nonprofit: KOFAVIV (a Creole acronym that translates into the Commission of Women Victims for Victims) What it does: Offers safety, medical care and legal aid to rape victims in Haiti. Gender-based violence has been an issue in Haiti for years, according to Villard-Appolon, and her group has seen an increase in rape cases since the 2010 earthquake. Villard-Appolon says: "We tell people to come out of silence. Do not be afraid to say that you have been victimized." Donate to KOFAVIV

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.

Dying teacher fought son in classroom, saving students

Courtesy of Casper College James Krumm, 56, and Heidi Arnold, 42, were stabbed to death on Friday by Krumm's 25-year-old son, Christopher Krumm. By NBC News staff Police say a Wyoming community college teacher James Krumm was a hero for fighting off his son on Friday, potentially saving the lives of six of his computer science students. "I can tell you the courage that was demonstrated by Mr. Krumm was absolutely without equal," Casper Police Chief Chris Walsh said, according to The Associated Press. On Friday, Christopher Krumm, 25, stabbed his father's girlfriend to death before driving to Casper College, where his father was teaching a class. He was equipped with a compound bow and arrow and two knives, which he carried into the building under a blanket. When he entered the classroom, Christopher Krumm stood about four feet from his father, pulled back the bowstring and shot an arrow through his father's head, the Casper Tribune reported. His father, James Krumm, 56, fell but got back up and struggled with his son, the Tribune reported. That's when Christopher Krumm stabbed himself, then plunged the knife into his father's chest, killing him, Walsh said. When police arrived, the elder Krumm had died and the younger was taking his final breaths. Back at his home, girlfriend Heidi Arnold's body lay in front of the house for 11 hours, neighbor Heather Meier told the Tribune. Arnold, 42, was barefoot and her midriff was visible, Meier said. Authorities didn't cover her body. "I can't keep it out of my head," Meier told the Tribune. Police believe that Christopher Krumm drove from Vernon, Conn., where he was living, and booked into a motel on the outskirts of town on Thursday, the day before the killings. Matt DiPinto, a neighbor in his apartment building in Vernon, described an interaction he had with Krumm to the Hartford Courant newspaper. Krumm was giving him a ride back from McDonald's. "He told me his dad gave him Asperger's (syndrome), that his dad shouldn't have passed it on," DiPinto said. "He said his dad should be castrated. I didn't know him that well, he just kind of said it out of nowhere, so that kind of threw me off a little." Related: Asperger's disorder being dropped from psychiatrists' diagnostic manual On the Casper College website, James Krumm described himself as a teacher born in London, England and partly raised in Germany. He started teaching at Casper College in 2002. The Associated Press contributed to this report More content from NBCNews.com: Passengers killed when tour bus hits Miami airport overpass Women warriors pass elite Army training course Teacher lured boys online to get nude pics, cops say Video: NFL player kills girlfriend, self, police say 66 species of coral proposed for protection by US Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

How March Madness figures into military hearing of Bradley Manning

Jim Watson / AFP - Getty Images Pfc. Bradley Manning is escorted by military police departing the courtroom at Fort Meade, Md., in April. The U.S. Army private is accused of passing classified documents to secret-spilling WikiLeaks, By NBC News and wire services The defense team for Private First Class Bradley Manning — charged in the biggest security breach in U.S. history — invoked the soldier's excitement about March Madness as evidence that he was not suicidal and therefore should not have been held in isolation at the brig. The soldier, appearing at the sixth day of a pre-trial hearing at a military court at Fort Meade, Md., is seeking to avert a trial by arguing that he has been subjected to "unlawful pretrial punishment" and "unduly onerous confinement conditions." As the pre-trial arguments continued to run longer than scheduled, Military Judge Colonel Denise Lind delayed the soldier's trial by about a month to March. A former intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2009 and 2010, Manning stands accused of giving thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, including logs about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 250,000 diplomatic cables. If convicted of the most serious count of the 22 charges against him — aiding the enemy — Manning could face life in prison. Manning was detained on May 29, 2010, and has been in pre-trial lock-up since. The pretrial hearings have focused primarily on a period of nearly nine months that he was locked up alone in a small cell at the Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Va., and forced to sleep naked for several nights. His lawyers say the solitary confinement constituted illegal punishment — and grounds to dismiss all charges. Military prosecutors in the case maintain that Manning's treatment was proper — confining him initially as a maximum-security detainee who posed a risk of injury to himself or others, and after further evaluation changing his status to medium risk. Among those who testified on Sunday was Staff Sergeant Ryan Jordan, who served as an Army liaison at the Quantico brig when Manning was detained. Jordan took part in a board that did a weekly evaluation of the level of restriction required for Pfc. Manning.  During cross examination, Jordan said there were several reasons Manning was kept on prevention of injury status — a restrictive status that is essentially one step below suicide watch. Among those reasons, he said, was that Manning rarely engaged in conversation with the guards and had made suicidal statements in the past. Jordan related an instance when he and Manning spoke about the upcoming March Madness — the frenzy around the national college basketball playoffs — and said that Manning talked about how he had enjoyed filling out brackets in previous years. Defense attorney David Coombs asked Jordan why those comments were not factored into a decision about Manning's potential to harm himself — essentially asking him whether someone filling out a bracket would indicate that they are not going to commit suicide because they are looking forward to a particular event and "planning it out." Jordan did not agree, saying that "everyone has a bad day." Coombs asked Jordan whether Manning having a possible gender identity disorder was factored into the decision to keep Manning on prevention of injury status, referring to the defendant as Breanna Elizabeth Manning, the alias Manning used when he first arrived at Quantico. A gender identity disorder "didn't weigh heavily" in his consideration, Jordan said. The defense attorney also put Manning's height and weight on the record Sunday for consideration by the judge, postulating that Manning may have been quiet because he was physically intimidated by Jordan. Staff Sergeant Jordan stands 6 foot 9 inches, while Manning is 5'2" and weighs about 105 pounds, Coombs said. At the end of Sunday's hearing, the prosecution still had several witnesses to call. NBC News' Courtney Kube and Kari Huus, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.  More content from NBCNews.com: Florida guide uses hunting as rustic therapy for combat veterans Police: Kansas City Chiefs linebacker kills girlfriend, then himself Cuba pushes swap: its spies jailed in US for American contractor held in Havana Passengers killed when tour bus hits Miami airport overpass Women warriors pass elite Army training course Teacher lured boys online to get nude pics, cops say 66 species of coral proposed for protection by US Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook