It was an evening with Charlize Theron at UC Irvine's Center For Living Peace. The Academy Award-winning actress, who also serves as the United Nations Messenger of Peace, came to Orange County to speak to local advocates passionate about world affairs and the condition of humanity on the subject of impoverished children in South Africa, with a focus on the continuing health crisis brought on in that region by HIV and AIDS.
The eloquent Theron was joined by friends Kelly Smith, founder of the Center For Living Peace, and Dr. Michael Bennish, founder and executive director of an organization called Mpilonhle, which works with the Theron Africa Outreach Project directing funds for hands-on work bringing such vital elements as nutritious food, clean water, housing, health care and more to African children in desperate need.
Theron addressed a rapt audience Dec. 4 at the UCI Student Center, with an intimate dinner at the Center For Living Peace following. Gala host Nancy Christiano joined Fradee Rudy, executive director of the center welcoming UCI Chancellor Michael Drake and his wife, Brenda Drake, major donor and O.C. philanthropist Paul Folino, Kathy and Noel Hamilton, Janeen and Lawrence Hirson, Pamela and Tim Kashani, Leslie Millerd Rogers, and Jennifer Van Bergh and Tom Box.
