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| Paul Newman planting a tree at a camp groundbreaking ceremony. |
[pawl noo-muh n]
- noun
1. talented actor
2. entrepreneuer
3. daring race car driver
4. incredible philanthropist
5. encourager of children to "raise a little hell"
Today we celebrate the life of Mr. Paul Leonard Newman, PLN, who was born on January 26th, 1925.
What is incredible about this man is that as much as he is famous for his brilliant acting career he is equally as well-known and respected for his philanthropic work. What started off as a homemade salad dressing concoction with pal A.E. Hotchner, turned into Newman's Own in 1982, to over $300 million donated to charity today.
One charity especially close to his heart? The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps. Mr. Newman was the founder and truly the driving force behind the start of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (Ashford, CT) in 1988, a camp designed specifically for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. He created a place where kids, who daily face the brutality of childhood illness, could kick back, relax, and "raise a little hell." Twenty years later, this camp - and his dream - has grown to become a world-wide family of camps. Over 200,000 children and families have participated in a Hole in the Wall Camp program and every single person has experienced the magic of camp free of charge.
Happy birthday, Mr. Newman. Your legacy will live forever in each one of hundreds of thousands of lives you've changed for the better, including mine.
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