Paul Newman Gives $10 Million to His Alma Mater

Paul Newman is more than just an actor. He is a well-known philanthropist, having given over $175 million dollars to charity from the profits on his Newman's Own food products and he is at it again.

ABC News reports that Mr. Newman and his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, are giving $10 million to Kenyon College in Ohio, which is Newman's alma mater. The money will be used to help start a scholarship fund.

Mr. Newman, 82, who graduated from the private liberal arts school in 1949 with a degree in drama and economics, had this to say about Kenyon. "My days there were among the happiest and most formative of my life. I believe strongly that we should be doing whatever we can to make all higher education opportunities available to deserving students. I hope others will support Kenyon in this manner."

While Newman and his wife have donated privately to the college in the past, they were urged to go public this time in the hopes that it will encourage others to donate.

College spokesman Shawn Presley said that the first Newman's Own scholarship recipients will be announced this summer. The $10 million donation is being used to fund partial and full scholarships for 15 to 20 students each year.

The Newman's Own line was started in 1987 with the intent of it being a small, boutique type operation. Instead it spread like wildfire and is now on grocery store shelves nationwide. The line includes popcorn, salsa, salad dressing, lemonade, steak sauce, and marinades. The expected profit of the business was $1200 a year. In the last 20 years the company's profit has been over $175 million dollars.

In 1988 Mr. Newman donated the funding to create the "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The first camp was opened in Ashford, CT, and there are now 8 camps- five in the United States and 1 each in Ireland, United Kingdom, and France, with more scheduled to be opened in the future. 13,000 children attend the camps each year, free of charge; thanks to the profits from the Newman's Own food products.

Paul Newman, was born in 1925 in Shaker Heights, OH and began acting over 50 years ago, starring in such classic movies as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "Cool Hand Luke", "Hud", and "The Hustler". He won an Oscar for his role as an aging pool shark in "The Color of Money." He has recently announced that he will be retiring from acting.