28- year-old American philanthropist and education advocate, Maggie Doyn, was named 2015 CNN Hero of the Year during the ninth annual CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute last night at New York City.
Doyn is recognized for her work in caring and educating hundreds of children in an orphanage and school at the Kopila Valley of Nepal.
"There is no time to waste. If you are educated and free, empowered and safe, you have to use your strength, your power, and your gifts to help the rest of our human family."-these powerful words by Doyn touched the audiences during her acceptance speech.
Doyne who grew up in Mendham Borough, New Jersey took a trip In 2005 in Nepal, following her graduation from high school, with the organization leapnow.org and that changed her life forever. The $5,000 she had saved from babysitting was used up to open up an orphanage in Surkhet. Her passion even grew to providing children with education. She then built the Kopila Valley Primary School where she manages herself. The school also located in Surkhet.
Doyne has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work including the 2009 Grand Prize Winner of the Do Something Awards and CosmoGirl of the Year in 2008.
Actress, Victoria Justice presented Doyne with the award during the ceremony while journalist and CNN reporter, Anderson Cooper hosted the event held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
According to CNN, Each of the Top Ten CNN Heroes received $10,000 in recognition of their work. Doyne's BlinkNow Foundation also received an additional $100,000 grant.
The Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute has profiled over 250 heroes and has received more than 50,000 nominations from more than 100 countries.
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is scheduled to air on CNN, Sunday, December 6, at 8pm/ET.
