CNN Observations: ROBIN LIM NAMED 2011 CNN “HERO OF THE YEAR” AT CNN’S FIFTH ANNUAL CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE

CNN Press Release - December 11, 2011 - In a star-studded ceremony Sunday night at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Robin Lim was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Christy Turlington Burns introduced Lim as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes while host Anderson Cooper announced her name as the CNN Hero of the Year at the end of the evening. Each of the Top 10 CNN Heroes received $50,000, and Lim’s nonprofit, Bumi Sehat Foundation, will receive an additional $250,000 grant.

In Indonesia, women are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries. After Lim’s younger sister died from pregnancy complications, she became a professional midwife and dedicated her life to offering free prenatal and birthing services to low-income Indonesian women. Since 2003, Lim’s“Yayasan Bumi Sehat” (Healthy Mother Earth) clinic has provided medical assistance to thousands of women in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia.

The star-studded ceremony included celebrity participants Jerry Seinfeld, Sofia Vergara, Mary-Louise Parker, Ice Cube, Laura Dern, J.R. Martinez, will.i.am, Christy Turlington Burns, George Lopez and Kurt Warner. Miley Cyrus, Chris Colfer and Emma Roberts presented to youths who were recognized and honored by CNN as “Young Wonders.” Miley Cyrus also performed her triple platinum hit “The Climb”, while Kid Rock performed a powerful version of "Care" from his platinum selling album, “Born Free.”

Now in its fifth year, CNN Heroes is a multi-platform campaign that shines a spotlight on individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to serve others. This year, the campaign received over 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries.

For more information, including photos and video highlights from the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, as well as information on all the Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2011, please visit CNNHeroes.com.