Newman’s Own Foundation teams up with Sailability

by Dimity Pinto on 13 Dec 2010 Newman’s Own Foundation has donated $17,000 to Sailability NSW to help a two person disabled team in their goal to represent Australia in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Sailability provides people with a disability the opportunity to participate in sailing and boat usage at social, recreational and competitive levels and is 100% run by volunteers.

'Thanks to the Foundation, team members Ame Barnbrook and Lindsay Mason will be able to compete in the SKUD18 class in the 2011 World Championships in Weymouth UK, which is a selection event for the Paralympics', said Sailability spokesperson Jackie Kay.

'The donation will be used to adapt the SKUD18’s seating and controls for 22 year old Ame, who was born without arms and will also pay the expenses of shipping the boat to the UK and back,' said Kay.

According to Newman’s Own Foundation Australian advisor, Sue Home, Sailability is one of 27 Australian charities are sharing more than $1million in donations this year.

'This year 14 charities are receiving funding of up to $60,000 for a range of special projects such as disabled children, childhood diseases, the homeless, at-risk youth and disadvantaged women,' said Home. 'A further 13 charities are receiving funding for new field work and/or transport vehicles.'

Robert Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation said Paul Newman’s commitment to making the world a better place remains a lasting legacy with all after tax profits from the sale of Paul Newman’s Own products continuing to go to charity.

'When people would thank Paul for his charitable giving, he would always reply that he didn’t think he was doing anything special,' said Forrester. 'He believed that the real thanks should go to those people who work every day to make our world – and the future – better. For Paul, it was a privilege to be just one among these many. That’s how we all feel as we carry on this unique and wonderful philanthropic legacy.'

The 2010 donations bring the total funding to Australian and New Zealand charities to more than $15.5 million since the first Paul Newman’s Own product was launched here in 1982. Newman’s Own Foundation recently surpassed $300 million in total worldwide charitable contributions.

'I never thought I'd get into science, but being able to turn salad dressing into a school bus – that's the kind of chemistry that tickles the fancy.' Paul Newman.