Charlize Theron’s Foundation Raises Over $1 Million While Celebrating Universal’s Box Office Record

While Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” recently surpassed $1.68 billion to become Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film ever, Charlize Theron used the moment to highlight a different kind of milestone. At the 6th Annual CTAOP Block Party held on the Universal Studios backlot on September 19, 2026, the actress emphasized her foundation’s ongoing mission over the studio’s commercial triumphs.

The event, which raised more than $1 million for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program (CTAOP), drew a high-profile guest list including January Jones, Kid Cudi, Nick Kroll, Patton Oswalt, and NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley. Theron expressed deep gratitude toward the studio, stating, “Universal truly is my family,” and credited Langley, Michael Moses, and Peter Cramer for their steadfast support throughout her career.

Theron, who stars in two of Universal’s top-ten films including 2017’s “Fate of the Furious,” also touched upon her upcoming return as the villainous Cipher in “Fast Forever,” the final installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise. She noted that while Vin Diesel has praised the script, he has kept it secret from her. When asked about a potential happy ending for the character, Theron admitted, “She’s a tricky bitch. She’s messy,” before joking about the possibility of a spinoff series.

The primary focus of the evening, however, remained the humanitarian work of CTAOP. As the organization approaches its 20th anniversary, it has served over 80 organizations, reached 4.8 million youth, and distributed $16.5 million to local grassroots efforts in Southern Africa.

Theron spoke passionately about the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, describing the current rate of femicide in South Africa as “beyond brutal.” She shared that she regularly sees reports of young women’s bodies found in dumps in East Rand, her hometown, and criticized the lack of public attention given to these tragedies.

“The value of women’s lives should matter. And when you find a young woman’s body in a dump, that should be the most important thing that we’re talking about,” Theron said. She also addressed misconceptions about American engagement with global issues, arguing that increased foreign aid saves millions of lives and contributes to long-term geopolitical safety.

The celebration featured performances by Kid Cudi and testimony from Siphosihle Benge, a graduate of CTAOP’s Youth Leaders Scholarship program. The event included live and silent auctions, further bolstering the funds needed to support organizations working on the ground to address the crisis.