“I’d like to be remembered as a guy who tried — tried to be part of his times, tried to help people communicate with one another, tried to find some decency in his own life, tried to extend himself as a human being.”
Paul’s Philanthropic Legacy
Paul Newman’s craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place.
Paul was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance and used his influence to advance many social causes. He accomplished this with an uncanny ability to break new ground.
Paul went from bottling homemade salad dressing as holiday gifts to creating a leading, premium food business - Newman’s Own, Inc. - whose entire net royalties and profits after taxes are donated to charity. Insisting on all-natural products, Newman raised the bar for the food industry. And he set the standard within the business community, defining what it means to give back and igniting other companies to do the same - from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 100 corporations.
The Pearl of Paul’s Philanthropy
While Paul’s philanthropic donations were wide-ranging, he was especially committed to the thousands of children with life-threatening conditions served by the SeriousFun Children’s Network (formerly known as the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps), which he founded in 1988. Paul envisioned the camps as places where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back, and “raise a little hell.”
There is now a thriving global community of 28 initiatives where children with serious illnesses can feel safe, be free, and have fun. Camp is free of charge to all campers regardless of their ability to pay, and is dependent upon the generous support of donors around the world.
From California to Vietnam, a host of believers sharing Paul Newman’s vision have helped children and their families - 384,700 and counting - reach beyond serious illness to discover joy, confidence and a new world of possibility.
The Legacy Continues
As of 2012, over $340 million has been awarded by Paul and Newman’s Own Foundation to thousands of charities around the world.
It’s a legacy we are proud to continue and grow!
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