Photo by Lisa Rose

“What could be better than to hold your hand out to people who are less fortunate than you are?”

Those are Paul Newman’s words.

I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now…on Friday Sept 26, 2008, Oscar-winning motion picture actor and philanthropist Paul Newman died of cancer at his home in Westport, Connecticut.

He was 83.

In 1982, Newman and his friend A.E. Hotchner founded Newman’s Own. It’s a food company that today produces wholesome food ranging from pasta sauces to salad dressing to salsa to chocolate chip cookies.

Their motto was, and still is, “Shameless exploitation for the common good”. I like that—no bones about it! –Your money is going to charity!

As Wayne commented in response to yesterday’s Blog post, Newman’s Own, which donates all profits and royalties after taxes to educational purposes, health, the elderly, the arts, inner city, the environment and charities such as Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camp…has given away more than $250 million.

Imagine that!

Paul established the camp to benefit children with life-threatening illnesses and he said his greatest reward was to see the kids smiling!

I love it!

May Paul, and his son Scott who died from a drug overdose in 1978, now rest in peace together.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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