Wanda Butts started the "Josh Project" in honor of her son.
/ Courtesy: CNN
On Monday, CNN announced its Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 to honor those they say make “extraordinary contributions to improve the lives of others.”
Toledo native Wanda Butts, first named a CNN Hero in May, was selected as one of the finalists.
Each Top 10 CNN Hero will receive a $50,000 grant to further their work, but only one will be named “CNN Hero of the Year” during the live broadcast on Sunday, Dec. 2.
The “CNN Hero of the Year” will receive an additional $250,000 grant.
For Butts, that money would go towards helping local children how to swim.
Six years ago Butts’ own son drowned and in his memory she created the “Josh Project”.
The initiative is a non-profit swimming and water safety organization that targets minorities.
According to Butts, the Josh Project has taught nearly 1,200 Toledo area children this life saving skill.
Online voting, that could make Butts the “CNN Hero of the Year” began Thursday afternoon and will run through November 28th.
Voters can log on to CNNHeroes.com - online or on their mobile devices- to cast ballots for their favorite Top 10 Heroes up to 10 times a day, every day.
Votes can also be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
The Hero with the most votes will be named by Anderson Cooper during a live show, on December 2nd at 9pm, on CNN.
This year, a new dimension has also been added to the prize package for the 2012 Top 10 CNN Heroes.
The Annenberg Foundation, a leading supporter of nonprofits worldwide, will help selected CNN Heroes further their work.
They will receive free training by The Annenberg Foundation with a customized version of its Annenberg Alchemy program, which provides practical guidance for nonprofit leaders in fundraising, communications, management of volunteers, and strategies to build and keep a strong board of directors.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWNWO