Paul
Newman is best known as an Academy-award winning movie star, featured
in more than 50 movies, including Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and The Color of Money. But he
was also a professional racing car driver and trailblazing philanthropist.
In 1982, when Paul Newman co-founded Newman's Own, a for profit
food company that donates all of its after-tax profits to charity,
he created a legacy that has inspired many other social entrepreneurial
ventures who provide goods and services as a way to raise money
for charities. As of 2012, Newman's Own has donated more than
$300 million! In 1988 Paul Newman started the Hole in the Wall
Camps that have allowed more than 100,000 seriously ill children
from all around to attend one of a network of camps free of charge.
Newman was also one of the founders of the Committee Encouraging
Corporate Philanthropy which is a leader in helping communities
develop philanthropic partnerships with leading businesses. In
2008, Paul Newman topped GivingBack.org's list of celebrities
who had given the most to charities. Paul Newman was also politically
active, supportive many progressive candidates over the years
and was a strong environmental advocate, attending the very first
Earth Day celebration in Manhattan on April 22, 1970 and outspoken
in his concern about global climate change. When he died, he was
honored by the Academy Awards for his contribution to film, as
well as by Congress for his contributions to humanity.
