Company Continues Commitment to USA WEEKEND Magazine’s ‘Make A Difference Day’; 15 Years of Partnership
Westport, CT, (April 7, 2009) – On Sunday, April 19, 2009, to coincide with the first day of National Volunteer Week, Newman’s Own, Inc. will proudly recognize 10 USA WEEKEND Magazine Make A Difference Day volunteer initiatives with a $10,000 award each, totaling $100,000. Since 1994, Paul Newman, Newman’s Own, Inc. and the Newman’s Own Foundation have been leading supporters of Make A Difference Day and together have contributed $1.5 million to Make A Difference Day projects. The 10 award-winning and inspirational volunteer projects that took place in October 2008 during the nation’s largest single day of volunteering, USA WEEKEND Make a Difference Day, will be profiled in heart-warming, moving stories in the April 19th issue of the magazine.
Currently, President Obama supports it, Congress seeks funding for it, teens are doing it, and a growing number of the retired are gravitating toward it: volunteerism. According to Mike Havard, vice president of marketing at Newman’s Own, “Now more than ever, we need Make A Difference Day volunteers to continue their grassroots work helping people in need in thousands of communities. Newman’s Own is very proud to help expand the impact of these 10 outstanding initiatives.”
Since 1992, USA WEEKEND has conducted the nationwide initiative, Make A Difference Day, held every fourth Saturday in October, to encourage citizens of communities nationwide to help their neighbors. More than three million volunteers participated in the event last October; even more are expected to join in the 2009 event on Saturday, October 24th. During the past 16 years, the day has empowered tens of millions of volunteers to bring about change in their own neighborhoods via their altruistic efforts.
Hundreds of grassroots volunteers have been recognized since 1994 with the Newman’s Own Make A Difference Day Award, each receiving $10,000 of seed money to sustain their efforts into the next year or to pass along to a project-related charity. According to Havard, “Make a Difference Day volunteers are creative, resourceful do-ers who inspire us all.”
The poignant stories of individuals and groups affecting change in the communities that surround them run an extensive range. There is the 97-year-old Mississippi woman who has organized a Free Flee Market for the poor in Yazoo City for the last 12 years because she can “help so many people on just one day.” And then there is the Marine Corps major who found his mission to honor fallen soldiers by holding a black-tie event for their families and presenting them the soldiers’ medals of recognition. In Michigan, an elementary school teacher created “The Governors’ Cookbook,” recipes solicited by his students of the nation’s governors. The school’s cookbook and bake sale proceeds exceeded $1,500 for a local food pantry and other charities.
About Newman's Own, Inc.Newman’s Own®, Inc., founded on a lark by Paul Newman and his buddy A.E. Hotchner in 1982, is now a leading (and growing!) premium food company that offers more than 175 varieties of delicious all-natural food and beverage products, including our marinades; Thin & Crispy Crust frozen pizza and Sweet Enough breakfast cereals. Based in Westport, CT, the charitable mission of Newman’s Own is expressed in its Company motto: “Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good.” Newman's Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $260 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982. Visit
www.newmansown.com for the nearest retailer/s that carry Newman’s Own products and for recipe suggestions using Newman’s Own products. Newman’s Own® Organics, founded by Paul’s daughter Nell Newman, offers a wide array of delicious organic products,
www.newmansownorganics.com.
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