Newman’s Own Foundation Offering $1m to Aussie Charities

The Newman’s Own Foundation, the philanthropic legacy of US actor Paul Newman, has extended its deadline for applications for $1 million (USD) in donations to Australian charities to give Not for Profits more time to apply.

The Foundation says the deadline has been extended to Friday 18 May with a majority of funding being earmarked for charities that focus on children with life-limiting conditions and ‘nutrition’.

Newman’s Own Foundation CEO, Robert Forrester, said that whilst the Foundation supports many diverse charities they felt the need to highlight the charitable work of organisations working in the two priority areas.

“Children with life-limiting conditions has always been a particular focus, since Paul Newman founded a camp for children aimed at allowing them to have fun and just be kids while they faced serious medical challenges,” said Forrester.

“Following that first Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which opened in 1988, there are now 14 camps around the world that have served 300,000 children and their families.”

Forrester added, “Nutrition is also an important issue that is critical in addressing obesity.  A particular area of interest is teaching children about nutrition and where their food comes from.  Through research, we have seen the correlation between nutrition and academic achievement in children, and feel if they have access to healthy food and are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles, they can have a better chance of succeeding in school.”   

The Foundation will be seeking to fund projects such as medically supervised holiday camps, mobile therapy units that service rural and regional areas or even mentoring/counseling initiatives.

Nutrition projects can range from school nutrition programs to food rescue programs that collect and redistribute unwanted food to the homeless and the underprivileged, to programs that address obesity.

Newman’s Own Foundation expression of interest forms can be downloaded at www.paulnewmansown.com.au Applications now close on Friday 18 May 2012.  Charities can apply for individual grants of up to $75,000.

To carry on Newman’s philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation turns all net profits and royalties from the sale of Newman’s Own products into charitable donations. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $340 million (USD) to thousands of charities around the world including $18 million for Australian and New Zealand charities.  

For more information, visit www.newmansownfoundation.org