Look To The Stars News: Paul Newman

Celebrities To Pay Tribute To Paul Newman

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:00 -0000

An awe-inspiring array of stars will pay tribute to Paul Newman at a benefit gala for one of the actor’s summer camps for sick children in California next month.

Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal will perform a stage reading of The World of Nick Adams, an adaptation of a number of Ernest Hemingway’s autobiographical stories, written by Newman’s longtime friend A.E. Hotchner at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on October 27. Proceeds from the evening will go to the The Painted Turtle, one of Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps for ill children.

Founded by Newman and Herb Alpert in 1999, The Painted Turtle provides the 17,000 chronically ill children in California who would otherwise be unable to attend summer camps with an empowering, renewing experience completely free of charge.

Tickets for the event are available through the City Box Office website.

Paul Newman - A Life Spent Giving

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman leaves behind a legacy modern celebrities will find hard to match.

83-year-old Newman – who passed away after a short illness on Friday – made his movie debut in 1954, and went on to become one of the most well known faces to grace the silver screen, appearing in over 50 films. Born in Ohio, Newman made his acting debut at the age of seven, but didn’t start acting professionally until after serving as a gunner in the Pacific in World War II. When the acting bug did bite, it went on to net Newman 10 Oscar nominations in his five-decade-long career – winning the best actor accolade for his role opposite Tom Cruise in The Color Of Money in 1986 – two Golden Globe awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, a Cannes Film Festival award and an Emmy award.

But it is Newman’s humanitarian and philanthropic efforts that gained him true popularity in the American heart. Much has been written about his Newman’s Own Food Company, the initiative he established in 1982 to manufacture his special salad dressings. Over $200 million were generated by the company for charity over the years, and earlier in 2008 the actor announced he had signed ownership of the company to charity. He wrote a book – titled Shameless Exploitation in the Pursuit of the Common Good – about his work with the company, explaining that the inspiration behind his humanitarian outlook was the death of his son from a drug overdose in 1978, which led him to set up the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention. Much of the money Newman raised went to the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps he established in 1988. The camps allow ill children to participate in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, overnight camping and group adventures, all while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge. More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps.

Newman was also one of the founders of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), an organization of CEOs and corporate chairpersons committed to raising the level and quality of global corporate philanthropy. He regularly donated to causes around the world, including a donation of $40,000 to a Welsh Breast Cancer Center and $10 million to Kenyon College last year, and $250,000 to aid refugees in Kosovo in 1999. At the age of 79, he flew to Britain to entertain sick and disabled children in north London by performing as a clown in a special version of Zippo’s Circus.

Newman was a huge fan of car racing, and competed in the San Jose Grand Prix (where he came in second) in 2004 to help raise money for the Canary Foundation. His love of racing led him to narrate the film Dale – based on the life of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt – in 2007, the last film project Newman was to be involved in.

In 2007, Newman announced he was retiring from acting to concentrate on charity work. Last month he was named as one of the top celebrity givers of 2007 in the Giving Back Foundation’s Top 30, with over $10 million donated to needy causes.

“He was really all about philanthropy, and people caring, and people voting, and that’s really who he was,“ said Newman’s daughter, Melissa. “So many of his ideas were reaching out. That is what he would like people to remember. Reach out, keep doing it. If we all did something for somebody or some organization today, can you imagine the change that would happen?”

Tributes for Newman have poured in from around the world, and many of the actor’s fellow philanthropic celebrities have been quick to praise the man who inspired several generations, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Letterman, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, and many others.

“He was purity of heart,” said Taylor. “Working with him was such a joy. Knowing him, being his friend, was as golden as the sunset and a privilege I’ll never forget."

But perhaps the most poignant tribute came from Robert Redford, Newman’s co-star from 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: “There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life – and this country – is better for his being in it.”

Newman is survived by his wife – actress Joanne Woodward – and their three daughters, Elinor, Melissa and Claire. He also has two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, from his first marriage to Jackie Witte.

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Givers

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

The Giving Back Fund has released its second annual Giving Back 30 survey, a ranking of the celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity in 2007 according to public records.

Heading the list was Oprah Winfrey, who donated $50.2 million to the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah’s Angel Network to “support the
inspiration, empowerment and education of women, children, and families around the world and to encourage people around the world to make a difference in the lives of others”. Coming in second was Herb Alpert, who donated a total of $13 million to the Herb Alpert Foundation, followed by Barbra Streisand, who gave over $11 million to the Streisand Foundation.

To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; sent inquiries to more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted the major sports leagues.

“Our hope is that celebrities will begin to become more comfortable sharing information about their charitable giving - perhaps not disclosing everything they give, but sharing enough that they will serve as role-models to their peers and fans,” said Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund. “We know that many celebrities re-direct income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity, or help to raise funds in other ways. We are researching reliable means to report this information in a separate list.”

The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities income because there is no consistent way to calculate income when taking into account income from sponsorship and merchandise sales.

Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

The rest of the list included Paul Newman, who gave away over $10 million; Mel Gibson, who gave $9.9 million to the AP Reilly Foundation, the tax-exempt entity named for his late mother, which supports Holy Family Catholic Church in Malibu, California; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who collectively donated over $8 million to good causes; and Lance Armstrong, who pledged $5 million to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Other celebrities listed included Michael Jordan, Rosie O’Donnell, Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Hefner, and Tiger Woods.

To see the full list of celebrities and their donations, see the Giving Back Fund website.

Paul Newman Donates Salad Dressing Ownership To Charity

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Paul Newman has donated the entire value of his ownership in Newman’s Own – his company famous for salad dressings – to charity.

The star of Road To Perdition and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid founded Newman’s Own Food Company in 1982, producing a range of popular dressings and sauces, with all profits – $200 million so far – going to charity. The millions of dollars raised through the venture every year go to thousands of charities around the world, and now $120 million will be donated to beneficiary organizations.

Much of Newman’s money goes to the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps the actor established in 1988. The camps allow ill children to participate in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, overnight camping and group adventures, all while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge. More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps.

Newman also hit headlines last year when he donated $40,000 to a Breast Care Center in Wales.

Wilson, Guttenberg Tee Up For Children

Wed, 21 May 2008 10:39:03 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Luke Wilson, Steve Guttenberg, Aidan Quinn and James Naughton are signed up to play in the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am, proceeds of which go the The Hole in the Wall Gang and the Greater Hartford Jaycees.

The Travelers Championship, formerly the Greater Hartford Open, is the sole fundraiser of the Greater Hartford Jaycees. The charity is a leadership development and community service organization, made up of men and women aged 21-40. Over the last 55 years, they have raised over $23 million for charity. Proceeds from the tournament will help the Jaycees to support the community in a variety of ways, ranging from delivering Thanksgiving baskets to families in need to facilitating leadership programs in local high schools to distributing grants and scholarships.

The Hole in the Wall Gang charity was started by Paul Newman to offer children with serious illnesses and life threatening conditions a place to forget about their problems. More than 100,000 seriously ill children from 34 states and 31 countries have attended their Camps free of charge. Tony Award-winner James Naughton is a member of the charity’s Board of Directors.

Tournament director Nathan Grube said in a statement. “The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am is a must see event of the Travelers Championship. A primary goal of the Travelers Championship is to raise funds and awareness for our designated charities, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the Greater Hartford Jaycees. We are appreciative of these stars who share their time and talents to support the tournament’s charitable efforts.”

The Celebrity Pro-Am takes place on June 18th at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT. Tee times will be from 6:50 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., and 11:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. Tickets are available at www.TravelersChampionship.com
, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, ranging from Ticket Sellers to Caddies, visit the Greater Hartford Jaycees website.

Julia Roberts - More Than Just A Pretty Woman

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:17:32 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Julia Roberts may be one of the most instantly recognizable actresses in Hollywood, but as a child she suffered from an affliction shared by over 3 million other Americans. Along with her brother, Heroes star Eric Roberts, the actress was a chronic stutterer. But it was a disorder she fought to overcome, and now she is helping others overcome the frustrating complaint.

Born in Smyrna, Georgia, Roberts wanted nothing more than to be a veterinarian when she grew up. Her father, a professional vacuum cleaner salesman, was a keen amateur actor who met his wife, a real estate agent, through a local theater group. Acting and performing was a big part of family life in the Roberts’ household, and thespian pursuits soon rubbed off on the young Roberts children. The two older offspring soon headed to New York to pursue acting careers, but Julia stayed at home to attend university. However, the acting bug could not be suppressed, and upon graduation, Julia headed to the Big Apple to join her sister, actress Lisa Roberts Gillan.

But before she could break into show business, Roberts had to beat her stuttering problem. She did this through the support of her family and friends, and last week, along with her brother, was asked by the Stuttering Foundation of America to be a spokesperson for the group.

“It would be marvelous to have them participate,” said foundation representative Jane Fraser. “They have no doubt inspired young people with the problem.”

The late 80’s were a struggle for the young actress, although she began to build up a profile by appearing in shows such as Miami Vice and Sesame Street. But it was a role as a diabetic in Steel Magnolias that launched Roberts into the public eye and gave her the first of many Oscar nominations.

1990 saw the release of Pretty Woman, alongside Richard Gere, and another Oscar nomination. Her star rose to prominence throughout the next decade with roles in seven high-grossing films, such as Hook, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Notting Hill. But it was her leading role in 2001’s Erin Brockovich that finally won her a Best Actress Oscar.

In 1995, Roberts expressed a desire to make her celebrity status mean something, and approached UNICEF to ask how she could make a difference in the world. The organization sent her to Port-au-Prince, the largest city in Haiti. It was a life-changing experience for the actress, and she found the poverty in the slums overwhelming. She later commented that her “heart was just bursting” at the sight of the children, many off whom were undernourished and homeless. Since then, she has visited many of the world’s poorest countries promoting peace, goodwill, and help for those in need.

In 2000, Roberts narrated a documentary film about Rett Syndrome, a rare disorder that can be fatal in young girls, and also represented the International Rett Syndrome Association in front of Congress in 2002.

“Congress has within its power the ability to provide the accelerated funding needed to increase our understanding of Rett syndrome,” she told a subcommittee of the House of Appropriations. "There is an urgent need now… to redouble the efforts of researchers and capitalize on their important and steadfast work.”

Roberts also sits alongside Paul Newman on the Board of Directors for the Hole in the Wall Gang, the world’s largest network of camps for ill children, and in 2007 she designed bracelets that were sold as part of Bono’s Product (RED) Campaign.

In 2006, Roberts became the Advisory Board Chairperson for Earth Biofuels, a company set up in Mississippi in 2004 to implement clean-burning fuels on a nationwide scale. Her passion for the environment led her to join Board members Morgan Freeman and Willie Nelson in a crusade to encourage the use of biofuels in over 500,000 school buses.

“It’s very important that we expand our use of clean energy and make a long-term commitment to it,” she said. “Biodiesel and ethanol are better for the environment and for the air we breathe.The use of biodiesel is a positive step toward minimizing pollutive emissions and greenhouse gases. By focusing on school buses, we can affect the health and wellbeing of the people most susceptible to that pollution – our children – today.”

Roberts is currently starring in Charlie Wilson’s War alongside Tom Hanks, but perhaps it is a line from Erin Brockovich that best sums up her attitude towards the causes she supports:

“For the first time in my life, I got people respecting me – please don’t ask me to give it up.”

Paul Newman Donates To Breast Care Centre

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:16:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A Welsh hospital has received a large and beneficial donation from Hollywood legend Paul Newman.

The Breast Care Centre at Singleton Hospital in Swansea received $40,000 at the start of October from the Newman’s Own Foundation, a charitable trust set up by the award winning actor 25 years ago. The star of Road To Perdition and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid founded Newman’s Own Food Company in 1982, producing a range of popular dressings and sauces, with all profits going to charity. The millions of dollars raised through the venture every year go to thousands of charities around the world.

The donation to the Breast Care Centre came about through his son-in-law, Gary Irving, who married Newman’s daughter, Nell, two years ago. Irving’s mother, Sue Proctor, has been getting treatment at the centre in Wales since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.

“Paul Newman gave Gary a present of $40,000 for his birthday this year, with the proviso he gave it to the charity of his choice,” said 62 year old Mrs Proctor. “Gary knew I had been having treatment at Singleton Hospital and that I was very pleased with the staff there, so he decided to donate the money to the Breast Care Centre. I’m chuffed that we’ve been able to give some money, and I want to give my thanks to the Centre and all the staff who work there.”

Newman and his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, visited Wales as part of their daughter’s wedding ceremony in 2005, and described it as “fantastic”.

“They’re a lovely couple,” said Mrs Proctor. “I went to their home in Westport, Connecticut, last year and had a wonderful time. They are very down-to-earth people with no airs and graces, despite their fame. As well as donating profits from Newman’s Own, Paul also has a series of Hole in the Wall Gang centres for terminally ill children around the world, and works hard making sure they are run well.”

Singleton Hospital is a district facility with room for 600 patients. As well as the Breast Care Centre, it is also well known for its Paediatric Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It provides health services for the entire South West Wales, which often stretches its resources to the limit.

“Not only is this a huge financial boost for our service, but a significant endorsement of the work of all our staff,” said Mike Chare, consultant surgeon at the Breast Care Centre. “Mrs Proctor is an extremely friendly and generous person, and we thank her very much for all her help in receiving this donation.”

Celebrity Auctions Tackle The Big Issues

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:29:11 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Thirteen of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood are creating a buzz with an internet auction taking place in October, in order to raise awareness of one of the biggest and most pervasive threats to life on Earth.

Ebay Giving Works, eBay’s program dedicated to charity listings, is hosting an online auction for the WWF, with 100% of the proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund’s global conservation initiatives, especially those involved in the fight against climate change.

The auction, which runs from October 3 -12, features a series of 100% organic T shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Hotter Than I Should Be”. The shirts, which have created much interest in the media and Hollywood as a unique way to spread the message that the Earth is warming, have all been signed by a multitude of celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Orlando Bloom, Rachael Ray, Harrison Ford, and Cate Blanchett.

“Global warming is the single biggest threat to our environment today,” said John Donoghue, Senior Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund. “We’re thrilled with the overwhelming celebrity support we’ve received, and we are confident this auction will not only garner funds for our work, but will encourage individuals to take action in their own lives to stop climate change.”

The WWF is a leader in the field of climate science, and is a strong and persuasive advocate for the reduction of harmful greenhouse emissions and the increase of energy efficient technologies. For more than 45 years, the non-profit organization has been working to protect nature, and now provides cutting edge scientific research into areas of concern. With a dedicated team of experts in over 50 countries, the WWF focuses on 4 particular areas of impact: creating responsible global warming policies, working with businesses to reduce carbon dioxide levels, implementing adaptation plans to help the planet respond to climate change, and protecting the forests that help mitigate climate change.

The “Hotter Than I Should Be” online auction looks set to provide some much needed funding to the WWF’s ongoing research. Many of the shirts have already reached bids of over $300, with Orlando Bloom’s attracting bids close to $800. Other celebrities who have lent their signitures to the cause include Candice Bergen, Gisele Bundchen, Kevin Bacon, Paul Newman, Charlie Sheen, Cindy Crawford, and Susan Sarandon.

Unsigned “Hotter Than I Should Be” T shirts are also available with donations of over $50 to the WWF, and more information about the auction can be found at www.worldwildlife.org.

Also up for auction on eBay Giving Works in October is a series of pink rubber bath ducks, signed and decorated by celebrities such as Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Lucy Liu, and Matthew McConaughey.

The auction has been organized by Munchkin Inc, the makers of award winning infant and toddler products, as part of their Project Pink breast cancer awareness program, and runs from October 1 to November 4. All proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to education and research into the causes, treatment, and the search for a cure to breast cancer.

Other celebrities to design and sign rubber duckies include Brooke Shields, Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross, Charlie’s Angels’ Jaclyn Smith, and former First Lady Barbara Bush. The auction is hoped to raise over $30,000, and more information can be found at www.munchkin.com/projectpink.

Charities Benefit from Auction of President Ford’s Personal Items

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:43:55 -0000

Written by Saskia Akyil

On July 7, over 500 items belonging to the late, former President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty, will be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting three charities important to the Fords. The auction will take place in Beaver Creek, Colorado, location of one of the Fords’ residences.

Auction items include: President Ford’s golf clubs, his skis, the President and Mrs. Ford’s engraved crystal, their personal American flags, artwork, furniture, clothing (such as ski jackets, ski boots), sculptures, books, kitchen ware, collectibles, decorative household items, silver, rugs, Christmas ornaments, antiques, and lamps. Hundreds of other items will be sold the day before the auction at a tag sale. Many local companies have contributed products and services for the auction, which is hosted by New York-based Guernsey’s auction house.

The non-profit organizations to benefit from the auction and tag sale are The OK Corral Camp, The Eagle River Scholarship Fund, and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

The OK Corral Camp is a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, set to open in 2010. The camp, which will be located in the mountains of Colorado, will be a place where ill children can focus on something other than their illnesses. It is in the process of becoming a member of Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps.

The Eagle River Scholarship Fund awards scholarships for post-secondary education to those in need. It has awarded over $600,000 to students since it was established in 1974. President Ford supported the Fund both privately and through proceeds from the Jerry Ford Celebrity Golf Tournament. For many years, he personally presented the annual awards to the scholarship recipients.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is the highest botanic garden in the world, and specializes in alpine plants. It resides at an elevation of 8,250 feet, receives 100,000 visitors annually and aims to educate visitors about the plants native to alpine climates and elevations.

For more information about the auction and the tag sale and benefit preview party preceding it, see the Guernsey’s auction house website.

Paul Newman: Philanthropist, Not Actor

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:45:10 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Having closed the book on his five decade long acting career, 82-year-old Paul Newman is now turning his full attention towards his philanthropic activities that began nearly two decades ago.

By producing his own brand of dressings, pasta sauces, popcorn and salsa, Newman has raised more than $200 million for charities. His Dressing Room restaurant in Connecticut is a “home-grown” affair that supports local and regional farmers, fishers and producers, and raises awareness of a more sustainable food future.

Mr Newman also continues to expand his Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps for critically ill children in the U.S., Europe and Middle East; the number currently stands at twelve.

The summer camps allow illness to slide into the background while the kids enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, nature, overnight camping and group adventures. The camps are designed to allow every child to participate and to ensure that no child can fail, all the while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge.

As one camper says: “Sometimes you think being so sick gives you limits, but the camp helps you try anything."

More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps. Marathoners, bike racers and other athletes can access resources online to help them raise funds for such camps.

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