Charlize Theron Honored, Nelly and Kelly Rowland Perform at Baby2Baby Gala Raising $17.1 Million for Children Living in Poverty

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson Charlize Theron traded her post-election “depressed sweats” for a stunning Schiaparelli gown to collect the Giving Tree Award at Baby2Baby’s annual gala on Saturday night, which raised a record-breaking $17.1 million to provide basic necessities to children living in poverty.“I’m not sure about all of you, but I think we all needed a night like tonight.

A night that feels like hope,” Theron told the well-heeled crowd of more than 800 Hollywood talent and executives, business leaders and philanthropists supporting the national non-profit’s mission.

Over the last 13 years, Baby2Baby has distributed more than 470 million critical items — including diapers, formula and clothing — to families in need across the country.Theron was recognized for her work with the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), which celebrates its 17th anniversary this year. “We started CTAOP because we saw that the youth in my home country, in South Africa, falling through the cracks,” Theron explained. “HIV rates were going through the roof, as well as gender-based violence rates.

And even now, today, South Africa has a femicide rate five times the global average. It’s devastating. So, we knew we had to get involved.”While those issues might seem far from the world of Hollywood, they’re actually of universal concern. “What we’re talking about is equity, dignity and passion,” Theron said of CTAOP and Baby2Baby’s parallel aims. “It’s glaringly obvious how important it is right now — as we here in the United States are seeing the rights of women being stripped away from us in real time — it is important for us to remember that the rights of girls and young women out there need to be supported.”Grammy-winning singer and.