Charlize Theron Partners With Toms Shoes To Prevent AIDS in Africa

Charlize Theron teamed up with Toms shoes founder Blake Mycoskie to launch a line of shoes for women and kids.

According to E Online, money raised from sales of the brightly colored shoes will go to support the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP). The actress’ charity works to keep African youth safe from HIV/AIDS through education and support of local community organizations working to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

More than 300,000 people die of AIDS each year in South Africa and 5.6 million South Africans are living with HIV or AIDS, the highest number in the world.

When talking about the collaboration with Toms, Charlize told E:

“We have very similar philosophies and I think, you know, I think our passion lies with youth and I think when we got together that we saw great opportunity to enhance each other’s dreams of change in a way that might not have been able to happen if we didn’t partner.”

The design of the shoes features an embroidered Sun-inspired CTAOP logo and has the charity’s motto, “Reach Out, Think Beyond, and Look Within,” printed on the inside.

In addition to raising money for the charity, Blake Mycoskie hopes the shoes will raise awareness about the need for help.

“When someone sees the shoes and they ask someone about it, they’re not just going to say, ‘It’s a pair of Toms,’ Mycoskie said, They’re going to say, ‘This is Charlize’s organization. This is what they do. This is what they’re committed to. When I bought the shoes, not only did a child get a pair of shoes, but this also help further protect these children from HIV/AIDS.'”

You can pickup a pair Charlize Theron designed Toms starting in March, either from the Toms website or in stores.