Charlize Theron had two sizable figures to celebrate Saturday night: the record-breaking $1.68 billion global gross of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and more than $1 million raised for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program at its sixth annual block party.

“The Odyssey” last week became Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film of all time, with its box office total still climbing. Theron described joining the Nolan film as an unexpectedly welcome opportunity.

“I feel like I got a great invitation to the best party in town, and I don’t know how I got it, but I’m really glad I got invited,” the Oscar winner told Variety.

The milestone gives Theron another place in Universal’s box office rankings. She also appears in 2017’s “Fate of the Furious,” which stands at No. 6 among the studio’s 10 biggest films.

Yet Theron’s attention at the weekend event was centered on CTAOP, which works to strengthen the health and safety of young people in Southern Africa. Held on the Universal backlot, the fundraiser brought together entertainment figures and supporters for an evening that included live and silent auctions, personal testimony and performances.

A starry night for CTAOP

Theron co-hosted the block party with Thando Dlomo and Rodney Franks. The guest list included January Jones, Nick Kroll, Patton Oswald, Skye P. Marshall, Jeannie Mai, Heather Gay, Natalie Martinez, chef Andrew Zimmern, Thaddeus LaGrone, Aggy K. Adams, Shudu Musida, Naledi Masilo, Michelle De Leon and Max Talisman. NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley also attended.

The Six Compound opened the event with a break-dance performance, while Siphosihle Benge shared her experience as a graduate of CTAOP’s Youth Leaders Scholarship program. Kid Cudi later performed a set featuring “Pursuit of Happiness,” “Day ‘n’ Nite” and “Memories.” The celebration ultimately raised more than $1 million for the organization.

Theron credited Universal and its leadership with supporting both her career and the event. “Universal truly is my family,” she said. “I owe so much to Donna Langley, and to Michael Moses and Peter Cramer. All of them have stood by me for my entire career.”

CTAOP will mark its 20th anniversary next year. To date, the program has served more than 80 organizations, reached over 4.8 million young people and awarded $16.5 million in grants to local grassroots groups.

For Theron, that record underscores the relationship between supporters and the organizations carrying out the work. “The success of CTAOP is understanding the importance of a community here — because without this community, other communities on the ground can’t do the work,” she said.

Theron calls for action on gender-based violence

Looking toward the anniversary, Theron said her ideal outcome would be for CTAOP’s work to become unnecessary because the problems it addresses had been solved. She acknowledged, however, that she does not expect that to happen.

Instead, she said the organization is heading into a period that will require substantial funding for groups confronting gender-based violence on the ground. Theron singled out femicide in her native South Africa, describing the situation as “beyond brutal.”

“Every morning, I get on my feed and I hear of another young woman’s body that was found in a dump in East Rand, where I grew up,” she said. “And it’s like nobody cares. Nobody’s talking about these things.”

Theron added that violence against women and girls is prevalent in many places, but said South Africa has been particularly devastated. “The value of women’s lives should matter,” she said. “And when you find a young woman’s body in a dump, that should be the most important thing that we’re talking about.”

She also pushed back against the idea that Americans are indifferent to crises elsewhere, arguing that many understand the impact of foreign aid. Theron said less than 1% of America’s overall budget going toward foreign assistance can save millions of lives, and warned that withdrawing support carries humanitarian and long-term geopolitical consequences.

What Happens Next?

Alongside CTAOP’s approaching 20th anniversary, Theron is expected to return as Cipher in “Fast Forever,” the final installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Vin Diesel has called its screenplay “the best [he’s] read in decades,” though Theron said he had not yet shared it with her. “He’s very secretive,” she explained.

Theron also remains unsure what ending might await Cipher. After joking that the villain is “tricky” and “messy,” she nearly suggested the character could die before reconsidering. With a spinoff series in development at Peacock, Cipher’s ultimate fate remains open.