Paul Newman Donates $200,000 to NZ Charities

May 24, 2002

Twenty-three community-based New Zealand charities are today celebrating the continued generosity of legendary actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Paul Newman.

The Paul Newman Foundation has made cash grants to each of the charities of between $1000 and $30,000 to the total of $200,000 - the largest amount ever donated in one year in New Zealand.

Surf Lifesaving NZ has been given $30,000 for lifeguard equipment, NZ National Lifeline Association $13,000 to hold training workshops, DEBRA NZ (Cotton wool or Butterfly children) $10,000 which will provide financial support for the children and Heart Children NZ $10,000 for machines for at home blood testing.

Several smaller organisations have also benefited including the Levin and District Befrienders who support the elderly, lonely and housebound. They have received $1000 to help pay for petrol. The Onewhero Rural Fire Force has received $5500 to help it buy a replacement fire engine.

To be eligible for grants charities must receive minimal government funding, spend their grants within New Zealand on a particular project and not use grant monies to fund salaries or administration costs.

All after tax profits from the sale of Paul Newman's Own pasta sauce and salad dressings are donated to charity as part of Newman's philosophy his profits from the sale of his food products should help those in need in the country in which the products are sold. Since 1982 when the celebrated actor started bottling his salad dressing more than $200 million has been distributed worldwide.

This is the 12th year the foundation has made the grants in New Zealand bringing the total contribution in New Zealand and Australia to more than $8 million. The Paul Newman's Own range and the grants are distributed in New Zealand by Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited.

"This year's pool was impressively large and we had a huge number of applications," says Goodman Fielder New Zealand marketing manager - meals, Miriam Rae.

"The funds we distribute will be used effectively in the community by the organisations who have been successful in their applications and we are very proud to be able to make this happen in New Zealand."

The first New Zealand organisations to benefit from Paul Newman's were the Auckland Children's Hospital and CANTEEN in 1990.

Charity Recipients

Special Needs Library, Christchurch ($5000)
Little People of NZ, Hastings ($23,000)
Wellington City Mission (($10,000)
Levin & District Befrienders ($1000)
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand ($30,000)
Parent to Parent NZ, Hamilton ($5,000)
Onewhero Rural Fire Force ($5,500)
Auckland & District Kidney Society ($4,500)
Alzheimer's Society Waikato ($5,000)
PHAB - Physically Disabled & Able Bodied ($3,300)
Volunteering Waikato, Hamilton ($4,000)
NZ National Lifeline Association, Auckland ($10,000)
DEBRA,NZ ($10,000)
The Hearing House Auckland ($14,000)
Auckland Huntington's Disease Trust ($5,000)
Parent to Parent, South Canterbury ($6,000)
Parent to Parent, Coastal Bay of Plenty ($6,000)
MS Waikato Trust ($3,700)
Lysomal Storage Diseases Trust, Lower Hutt ($18,000)
Stroke Foundation Midland Region ($9,000)
Tauranga SPCA ($10,000)
Heart Children NZ, Auckland ($10,000)
Clevedon Scout Group, Papakura ($4,500)

Released on behalf of Goodman Fielder by Porter Novelli New Zealand (Auckland) Ltd.

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