Charlize Theron auctions herself for charity

Charlize Theron has auctioned a date with herself for charity. The 35-year-old actress — who has been single since splitting from long-term boyfriend Stuart Townsend earlier this year — offered to attend a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game with whoever bid the highest for a pair of court-side tickets at a fundraiser in New York last night.

“All the men in the room were doubling the bids on the courtside Lakers tickets if Charlize attended the game with them,” said a source who attended the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project dinner and auction at the Darby Restaurant. “She agreed to attend for $20,000.”

The Monster actress launched her charity — which aims to create safer and healthier lives for at-risk children and communities in South Africa, especially those affected by HIV and Aids – n 2007.

Charlize’s close pal Liv Tyler attended the event to see her friend being auctioned off for charity.

Other celebrities who attended included Mad Men actor Jon Hamm and wife Jennifer Westfeldt, James Blunt’s former girlfriend Petra Nemcova and fellow model Irina Shayk, while Jackass star Johnny Knoxville brought his new wife Naomi Nelson.

Charlize took a break from movies last year to focus on her Africa Outreach Project but is currently filming Young Adults with Jason Reitman in New York.