So much can be said about this man: beautiful, charismatic, humorous, compassionate, ‘magnetic titan of Hollywood’, the blue-eyed man with zero ego…. The list goes on. But I think a quote by him will be most appropriate in this sad time:

“I wish I could recall with clarity the impulse that compelled me to help bring this camp into being. I’d be pleased if I could announce a motive of lofty purpose. I’ve been accused of compassion, of altruism, of devotion to Christian, Hebrew, and Moslem ethic, but however desperate I am to claim ownership of a high ideal, I cannot. I wanted, I think, to acknowledge Luck; the chance of it, the benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, made especially savage for children because they may not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.” – Paul Newman.

In 1988 Paul Newman’s dream to bring joy, laughter, commitment and compassion into the lives of children with childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases – became a reality. As the founder of ‘Hole in The Wall Gang Camps’ – all these things were made possible for over 35 000 children across the globe so far. FREE OF CHARGE!! It takes a philanthropist of exceptional standards to establish such a phenomenal dream. Restoring joy and building self-esteem in these children, it proves once again that ‘laughter is the best medicine’.

With camps in Ireland, UK, France, Italy, Hungary, Israel, Africa, Southeast Asia, Florida, New York, Santa Monica, Randleman and Connecticut – ill children from far and wide can participate in Paul’s dream for joy. Supplying children who lost their hair due to chemotherapy, he supplied cowboy hats. Activities at these camps are ‘illness friendly’ – for fun to be had by all. Children can’t wait to return to a camp – labelling it the ‘best thing in their lives’. The joy that Paul Newman experienced by the children’s’ pleasure during these camps was indescribable. (Not to mention the extreme comfort it brings to parents, seeing the joy their ill children experience!).

Also his food brand (with friend/writer AE Hotchner) – ‘Newman’s Own’, turned into a charitable organisation. With his love for cooking, and making salad dressing as Christmas gifts, the demand for his sauces became so large, that a company was born in 1982. From the beginning, these two men realised that they have enough of their own and decided for all profits to go towards various charities. Over US$220 million has been accumulated since May 2007 only!

His proudest moment must have been receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1994 for his charity work. Another fit quote of Newman’s was: “We are such spendthrifts with our lives. The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil that he takes out.” What an exemplary life he lived. We can all learn so much from him. A private man concerning his health, rumours about his illness started in January 2008. In May he decided to step down from working, and by end July, the sad news that he had only weeks to live crashed his family and friends. Dying of lung cancer at age 83 on 26 September 2008 – it was a sad day for many, many people. Forever will this dedicated philanthropist live on in the hearts of the world!