Newman charity to donate €400k

PAUL NEWMAN only ever wanted to be remembered as someone who cared for others, Robert Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation, claimed yesterday.

To mark the $300 million (€207m) milestone of charitable giving since the late actor formed his food company in 1982, the foundation is giving more than €400,000 to 12 Irish charities.

One of the grant recipients is Barretstown, the first of Newman’s family of Hole in the Wall camps for children with life-threatening illnesses to be established in Europe.

Other recipients include Barnardos, Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the Marie Keating Foundation.

Mr Forrester, who was in Dublin to announce the donation, said Newman was committed to helping the world become a better place.

The foundation was established in 2005 to sustain the philanthropic work that the American actor cared so deeply about.

“Paul never really wanted to be remembered as a celebrity, but as a producer of quality food and a philanthropist,” he said.

“He believed in sharing his good fortune with those in need and we are proud to be able to continue his philanthropic legacy today.”

Mr Forrester said the foundation wanted to make a special grant in honour of Dr Fin Breatnach, a renowned paediatric oncologist and Barretstown’s medical advisor since it was founded in 1994.

Both Newman and the foundation have supported a wide range of charities for almost 20 years.

Newman was aged 83 when he died in 2008 and, to carry on his philanthropic legacy, the foundation donates all post-tax profits and royalties to charity.

Mr Forrester said Newman’s Own manufactured about a dozen different products, including sauces, dressings, pizzas, popcorn and wine.

“People in Ireland buy the products when they can get them and one of the things we would like to do is to significantly increase our presence and our sales in Ireland,” he said.