Paul Newman donates $150,000 to New Zealand Charities

Hollywood movie star, Paul Newman and the Paul Newman’s Foundation, has donated NZD$150,000 to nine New Zealand charities from the profits and royalties of his Paul Newman’s Own dressing range.

The actor says he has never had a problem using his celebrity status to promote his hugely successful salad dressings and pasta sauces, which is best summed up in his tongue-in-cheek branding tagline - “Shameless Exploitation in the Pursuit of the Common Good”.

He, in turn, gives all of the profits from the range to charity. To date, the star’s foundation has donated in excess of USD$250 million worldwide, which includes over $12 million donated to over 700 charities in Australia and NZ.

In 2007, approximately one million bottles of Paul Newman’s Own salad dressings were sold in New Zealand, with Paul Newman’s Own profits being given to local charities.

This year, nine New Zealand charities will receive funding, including three from Auckland, two from Hamilton, one from Wellington, one from Christchurch and two from Otago.

The 2008 charities are:

Auckland
Manukau City Symphony Orchestra
A community orchestra offering accessible programming to include professionals, youth and community musicians.
Grant: NZD$15,000
Purpose of Grant: Support for the Players as Mentors programme wherein professional orchestra members mentor young musicians who are also offered small scholarships.

North Shore Group Riding for the Disabled
Volunteer run therapeutic horse riding and exercise programmes for people with disabilities.
Grant: NZD$5,000
Purpose of Grant: Purchase two horses suitable for therapeutic riding sessions.

Preventing Violence in the Home Inc
New Zealand's only national helpline and advocacy agency working to address family violence. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and receives an average of 700 calls per month.
Grant: NZD$18,000
Purpose of Grant: Purchase 25 Safe@Home kits: 25 each mobile phones, locks, monitored alarms. This security equipment for 25 high risk families would be installed hopefully for a period of 6 months.

Hamilton
Life Unlimited Charitable Trust
Provides services to those with disabilities. Life Unlimited will receive NZD$18,000 to expand their Best Buddies programme, matching students with intellectual disabilities with those who have no disability.

True Colours Charitable Trust
Enhances the lives of children experiencing chronic or life threatening illnesses, providing specialist clinical and emotional support, nurse consultation, crisis intervention, therapies and more. True Colours will receive NZD$15,000 to develop a therapeutic space in the True Colours House for seriously ill children to play, engage in art, music and sand tray therapy in a safe, welcoming and age appropriate environment.

Wellington
Hospice New Zealand
The national body for all hospices in New Zealand, providing a collective voice for all 30 members throughout the country. Hospice New Zealand will receive NZD$24,500 to develop a workshop for the 30 member hospice managers, assist with travel and materials costs.

Christchurch
Pillars Incorporated
Offering support services for children of prisoners and their families. This includes home based one-on-one support, a telephone helpline, Christmas gifts, and supported accommodation for women released from prison who have children. Pillars will receive NZD$15,000 to establish a website specifically for the 12,500 children throughout New Zealand with a parent in prison.

Otago
Alzheimers Disease &Related Disorders Society (ADARDS) Otago Inc
Offering services for people with dementia and their families. ADARDS will receive NZD$23,000 to support new rural services programmes in North and Central Otago in hopes of gaining future Government assistance.

Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB)
New Zealand’s primary service provider for blind, deafblind and vision impaired people, with most services provided at no cost to members. RNZFB will receive NZD$24,500 for breeding, training and matching of one guide dog to a blind, visually-impaired or deaf-blind person in New Zealand.

ENDS

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