Vote for Doc Hendley as CNN's Hero of the Year

I was lucky enough to get to write an article for the university about a family friend and fellow graduate for his awesome work - which has gotten him recognized as one of CNN's Top 10 Heroes. Here it is (in part):

Hero Turns Water to Wine

Doc Hendley, a 2004 graduate of North Carolina State University, has been named a CNN Hero for tapping into his bartending experience “to save thousands of lives on the other side of the world.” He is founder and executive director of Wine to Water, an international faith-based organization in Boone that installs running water and sanitation systems in the neediest parts of the world.

Wine to Water raises funds by hosting benefit wine events, such as tastings, to support water projects around the world. To date, Hendley's group has worked in five developing countries, including India, bringing safe drinking water to more than 25,000 individuals in refugee camps, orphanages, schools, hospitals and a leper colony, as well as directly into hundreds of homes through the installation of bio-sand filters. Wine to Water is also building two training centers in northern Uganda to teach locals how to access clean water without having to rely on foreign aid.

This is CNN’s third global search for ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary deeds. Hendley was chosen as one of the top 10 heroes of 2009 from among 3,700 nominations by a panel of world leaders and luminaries recognized for their own dedication to public service – including Gen. Colin Powell, Whoopi Goldberg and Sir Elton John . People can vote for CNN’s Hero of the Year on their Web site from now, until Thursday, Nov, 19.

CNN will announce the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year and honor the Top 10 CNN Heroes in a star-studded gala celebration, "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" on Thanksgiving, November 26, from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

So please, please, please vote for Doc as often as you can!

Click here to vote for Doc!