Charlize Theron to Be Honored at Baby2Baby Gala

Baby2Baby will be giving Charlize Theron some love on Nov. 9.

The Oscar winning actress, producer and philanthropist has been tapped to receive the Giving Tree Award at the organization’s annual glitzy fundraiser in Los Angeles. Per Baby2Baby, the honor is doled out to a public figure “who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the lives of children in need.”

Theron will join a roster of previous recipients that includes Salma Hayek Pinault, Kim Kardashian, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Amy Adams, Drew Barrymore, Chrissy Teigen and Vanessa Bryant.

Theron said she’s “deeply honored” to receive the shine, which comes her way thanks to more than three decades of work on issues like education, reproductive health, the prevention of gender based violence and HIV among young people, LGBTQ rights and youth development, among many others. She founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project in 2007, and has also served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Of Baby2Baby’s work, she added, “Their dedication to serving women, children and families across the country is nothing short of inspiring. Through my work with CTAOP, I have seen first hand the power we all can have when we invest in young people and their communities, and completely share in their mission to work towards a more equitable world.”

Said Baby2Baby co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof: “We are thrilled to honor Charlize with The Giving Tree Award at this year’s Baby2Baby Gala. We are inspired by her unwavering commitment to children, both in her own life and through her philanthropic work through the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and around the world. Charlize has been a lifelong champion for vulnerable women and girls, and as a women-led organization serving families with predominantly single mothers, we admire her dedication and look forward to celebrating her on our most important night of the year.”

Sponsors for this year’s event include title sponsor Paul Mitchell along with Merit, Volvo Car USA, Velocity Black and Summer Fridays. The Baby2Baby gala is the org’s marquee fundraiser and helps the team take in more than 60 percent of its operating budget. Over the last 13 years, Baby2Baby has distributed more than 450 million basic essentials including diapers, formula and clothing to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care agencies, hospitals and underserved school districts.