( CNN ) -- Eddie Canales ' nonprofit , Gridiron Heroes , provides emotional and financial support to high school football players who 've sustained life-changing spinal cord injuries . Canales ' son Chris was paralyzed during a high school football game in 2001 . But it was a year later when the two came up with the idea to help other kids and their families . Eddie and Chris were watching a high school football game from the stands when they saw another player suffer a spinal cord injury . They reached out to the injured player and his family , and within months , Gridiron Heroes was born . CNN asked Canales for his thoughts on being chosen as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011 . CNN : Where you were when you got the call that you 'd been selected as a top 10 CNN Hero ? Eddie Canales : I was sitting at the dining room table , going over information about an event we hosted the weekend before . I was so excited ! I was listening to the other details , thinking to myself , `` This is what Gridiron Heroes needs : creating awareness on a big picture . '' CNN : What do you hope this recognition will mean to Gridiron Heroes ? Canales : What a difference it could have to be able to help so many more high school football players all across the nation . ... I was just pumping my fist , saying to myself : `` Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! '' What a blessing . I had goose bumps going down my arms . I looked up and gave thanks to the Lord above . My eyes started to water , because I know my dad is looking down . And I said , `` Dad , you were right ! '' One of the last things my dad did was to bring me grant-writing information , telling me that I might need some of this information because Gridiron Heroes was going to be big and this would go nationwide . He went into the hospital that same day and passed a week later . I know he is smiling down on me . CNN : How will you use the $ 50,000 award that you receive for being selected as a top 10 CNN Hero ? Canales : One of my goals has always been to create an educational fund for these guys , because some of them are getting of that age now where they want to go to school . The state requires you take a full ( class schedule ) to get funding ; a lot of them ca n't do that . ( We want to ) get them back three semester hours , six semester hours -- whatever they think they can handle -- and let them go back to school . CNN : What do you want people to know most about your work ? Canales : Gridiron Heroes is not about deterring anyone from playing football . The game and the injury is the bond all these young athletes have . ( But ) these kids need help , and the families need help . More attention should be given to what happens to the athlete after an injury has taken place . More attention should be given to the huge disparity in the level of support provided by the football community for those injured on a high school level compared to a collegiate or professional level . I am hoping that the football community can come together to make sure these young athletes are never forgotten . Read the full story on CNN Hero Eddie Canales : . Young football players injured , but not forgotten .
Eddie Canales ' was named 10 of the top one Eddie Heroes of the weekend before . Canales is helping young football players who 've suffered spinal cord injuries . His nonprofit , Gridiron Heroes , provides support for players and their families .