photo by william taufic; hair and makeup by destiny sorice for Warren•tricomi
When Paul Newman sowed his first seeds of philanthropy, few could have predicted that his legacy for making the world a better place would eclipse his incredible fame as an actor. As of March 2009, Paul and Newman’s Own Foundation have awarded more than $280 million to thousands of charities around the world, his Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has provided rollicking summer fun to more than 135,000 seriously ill children, and his Safe Water Network addresses one of the world’s biggest humanitarian concerns: the lack of access to safe drinking water.
His involvement with community causes is equally legendary, from his personal mission to preserve Trout Brook Valley, the largest parcel of open space in Fairfield County, to his contributions to the Westport Farmers’ Market, the Westport Country Playhouse, the Westport Arts Center and the Westport Historical Society, among so many local causes, great and small. Says Gordon Joseloff, Westport’s First Selectman, “There are probably few charities in town that at one time or another have not been blessed with aid from the Newman family. Sometimes the gifts are known, usually through the Newman’s Own Foundation. Sometimes they have been donated anonymously.”
Newman’s passion for quietly helping others has rubbed off on his children, including three grown daughters who, in different ways, have taken up the mantle. Nell famously talked her father into backing her launch of Newman’s Own Organics, a thriving organic foods company; Melissa, better known as Lissy, is continuing Paul’s work to preserve open space in Fairfield County; and Clea, vice president of the board of Newman’s Own Foundation and board member of Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Association, Flora & Fauna International and EQUUS Foundation, brings her talents to bear at Giant Steps School, a Southport-based not-for-profit for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
As a tribute to the Newman family and its model of securing a philanthropic legacy — modestly accepting accolades, boldly giving donations — we shine a spotlight on a project on the verge of a major breakthrough that captured Clea’s heart, and then check on a few of the organizations in our backyard that have been uplifted by the Newmans.
GIANT SHOES TO FILL
Clea Newman Soderlund, who lives in Fairfield with husband, Kurt, is eager to talk about Next Steps Developmental Center, the innovative new endeavor underway at AIND/Giant Steps School, where she is director of development. The Center is a groundbreaking collaboration between Giant Steps and Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services (a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services) in Westport. The center will be Connecticut’s first multidisciplinary center for children and adults with autism and other related neurological disorders, dedicated to comprehensive clinical care, diagnostic and case-management services.
Giant Steps School was founded in 1992 by Kathy Roberts, a mother of six (one of whom has autism) and a group of parents and professionals who went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that students with ASD and related neurological impairments would have the chance to reach their full potential.
Clea recalls the fortuitous meeting that brought her together with Kathy five years ago. “I was looking for a central facility for Pegasus Therapeutic Riding when I met Kathy, who had a building on the Giant Steps campus for sale,” she recalls. “Kathy and I became great friends during our meetings. We realized that our feelings about people with disabilities and on the spectrum were almost identical, and, after I left Pegasus, Kathy brought me in to do fundraising and development at Giant Steps.
“We started talking seriously about how there was so much need in the area for a place where people with autism spectrum disorders could go for evaluation and comprehensive treatment and therapies. It just all started coming together.” The center is expected to be up and ready to service children and adults in late winter/early spring 2010.
Kathy says, “What we’re trying to do is a very inclusive project where a family can get everything they need under one roof. This is a place to start where parents can come for answers and help. Someone will translate all the new terms and interpret diagnoses and coordinate treatment strategies.”
Whitney Wasserman, director of strategic services at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services, explains, “Until now, families had to piece together their child’s treatments on their own. Finally, we will have a school in Connecticut for children with autism, a regional medical center and a leading researcher/pediatric neurologist all coming together to meet the needs of individuals with autism.” She continues: “Imagine that your pediatrician says, ‘Your ten-month-old is showing signs of developmental delays. Let’s have a better look.’ You would bring the child to Next Steps for screening assessments and evaluations. Our goal is to connect the family to the best existing providers in the area, including those within our network, and to use our combined knowledge and strengths to create a comprehensive, individualized program that includes evaluations by neurologists, psychologists, pediatricians, therapists, nurses and educators based on the patient’s need.”
Next Steps will also help children who are no longer school age; a growing concern as children with ASD become adults. “We are seeing the first wave of people on the spectrum who are now into early adulthood,” says Whitney. “We are planning to provide a wide range of services to address their changing needs for increased independence and self-sufficiency.” Next Steps is modeled after Learning and Developmental Disabilities Evaluation & Rehabilitation Services (LADDERS), the gold-standard comprehensive medical treatment program created by Margaret Bauman, M.D., at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard.
While amassing a team of specialists, including Dr. Bauman, a foremost researcher/pediatric neurologist, Clea and Kathy are also meeting with architects and nailing down details for the center’s buildout. “We would like to do the building so it’s completely green,” Clea says. “We want it to be the most eco-friendly, the most beautiful and the most functional for families as possible.
“Our dream is to create a complete campus-like facility, including therapeutic riding and sensory trails right on the property, as well as an organic garden where the kids can grow their own foods and perhaps even sell them at the farmers’ market. The possibilities are endless.”
When Clea gets excited about a project, it’s clear that the apple didn’t fall from the tree. Her parents, whom she describes as visionaries, modeled the importance of championing heartfelt causes at an early age. She recalls walking through the forest with her family for a documentary about land preservation at age six. “That’s when I first realized that my parents placed a premium on doing good,” she says. After working at Newman’s Own, and learning about amazing charities, she says, “Can you imagine anything more fun than giving your time and money to worthy causes? I’ve been hooked ever since.”
By dreaming big and rolling up their sleeves, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward have made an indelible impression on our community. Here, we connect with some of the organizations in our backyard that benefited most from the couple’s tenacious fundraising efforts and legendary generosity.
HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, is a haven where Paul Newman dreamed seriously ill children could, as he put it, “raise a little hell.” More than 1,000 had the time of their lives at the Camp’s signature summer program this past June through August. It expects to provide services to a record 16,000 children by the end of this year, helping return a sense of normalcy to lives turned upside down by cancer, sickle cell anemia and other life-threatening diseases. Although Paul has passed away, his vision for a place where kids could be kids lives on. Connecticut’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is the first in what has grown to become the world’s largest family of camps for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Eleven camps serve children and their families from thirty-nine countries and all fifty states. Newman’s daughters, Clea and Lissy, recently joined the organization’s board of directors.
James Canton, CEO of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, observes of Newman’s passing: “We are aware of his absence every day, but our belief in his dream for what Camp can be, and our commitment to the beautiful and brave children that Camp serves, keep us focused on his remarkable vision. We remain deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to have known him. We know that his spirit endures in every smile and hug that Camp offers a child.” holeinthewallgang.org
THE NEWMAN/POSES NATURE PRESERVE
On September 3, 2009, the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission cleared the way for creation of a thirty-eight-acre nature preserve in Paul Newman’s memory on town-owned land adjacent to the late actor’s home. “I think my father would really approve of this,” Lissy told P&Z members, who voted unanimously to approve a town request for a new open space/passive recreation zone that would allow creation of the preserve. “There’s wetlands, there’s a river, there’s open fields, there’s woods,” she explained. “It’s a really, really beautiful piece of property.” The 7.5 acres of Newman’s land is just a portion of the proposed preserve, which will be maintained by the Aspectuck Land Trust (ALT). The town purchased the other 29.9 acres in 1997 from the Poses family, longtime Newman neighbors.
Joanne Woodward, also in attendance at the meeting, raised her hand in support of ensuring the land is never developed. “One minute you turn around and there’s something gone that you lived with all your life,” she said. “And so I am just putting a hand out … hopefully, hopefully we can keep it [the land] with us.”
The land, which will be named the Newman/Poses Nature Preserve, will be available for walking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding and other recreational purposes.
ASPECTUCK LAND TRUST
Paul Newman gave a major boost to the effort to purchase and preserve Trout Brook Valley, the largest piece of open space in Fairfield County, when he committed $500,000 to the project and then galvanized local families to contribute. Says Princie Falkenhagen, president of Aspetuck Land Trust, “I don’t think Aspetuck Land Trust could have been successful in preserving Trout Brook Valley without the financial and moral support of the Newman family. Needless to say, Paul’s initial donation provided the basis for the fundraising, but his constant perseverance, including trips to Hartford to convince the legislators of the importance of the state to participate, made what seemed like at the time an impossible dream possible.
“Lissy Newman continues to support ALT personally by serving on our board of directors.”
In the summer of 2010, with financial support from Newman’s Own Foundation, ALT is creating a hands-on natural playspace for children to explore and experience nature at its Leonard Schine Arboretum in Westport. “The playspace will be built with natural materials found on the preserve,” explains Executive Director David Brant. There will be areas for fort-building, digging, tea parties and nature collages. We want to encourage children and families to get outdoors together, to play creatively and to fall in love with open space.”
ALT has nearly 700 members and manages 1,700 acres at 42 nature preserves in Westport, Weston, Easton and Fairfield for all area residents to enjoy. aspetucklandtrust.org
NATURE CENTER AT SHERWOOD ISLAND
On August 12, 2009, the Friends of Sherwood Island State Park heralded the opening of its Nature Center, which was created to serve thousands of seasonal visitors and area school children with activities like birding walks, nature trail walks, arts and crafts and talks about marine biology and avian ecology.
Prior to opening, Newman’s Own, which shares concerns about education, public space, children, water and environmental issues as the Friends of Sherwood Island (FSI), granted funds for the creation of the Center’s Butterfly Garden, then for construction, and, most recently, a completion grant that allowed for the FSI to furnish and install displays, add equipment and technology requested by the parks naturalist
and provide materials for its new intern program.
Louis Pietig, a Westport resident and Friends Grants Coordinator, says, “Paul, Joanne and the whole Newman family’s activism and generosity have been simply heartfelt, genuine and awe-inspiring. Their foundation’s participation creates success beyond the substantial financial funding they provide. Everyone owes them a debt of gratitude.” friendsofsherwoodisland.org
WESTPORT COUNTY PLAYHOUSE
One of the best-known regional theaters in Connecticut, the nonprofit Westport Country Playhouse famously underwent a $30.6 million renovation in 2005, spearheaded by Joanne Woodward. Celebrating its eightieth year, the Playhouse continues its long tradition of drawing great actors from stage and screen to the little red barn with big ambitions.
Annie Keefe, who shared artistic directorship with Woodward during the renovation years, says she has always known how important it was for the Newman family to have an excellent regional theater.
When it came time to undertake the massive renovation project, Annie says, “It literally wouldn’t have happened without Joanne. Her lending her name to the project made it happen, but she did so much more. She held fundraising events at her home on the first day of rehearsals, at previews and at opening night. She was involved on every level.”
But it was Joanne’s efforts after 9/11 that catapulted the Playhouse onto the national stage. Annie recalls, “Joanne said, ‘Now is the time to do Our Town in our town.” Though it was a really expensive production, she argued, “It’s a really good time to remind the town how much we all need each other.”
Next, Joanne called Annie and said, “You won’t believe what happened. We’re up at Camp [Hole in the Wall Gang Camp], and Paul said, ‘I think I could do the part of the stage manager.’ ” Annie recalls, “Not only did he bring enormous visibility to the Playhouse, he allowed us to take it to Broadway, where it was sold out. It gave the Playhouse enormous exposure across the country and it made us even more money for our renovation. He also was so active and involved in the day-to-day at the Playhouse. You couldn’t believe the energy of them together.”
Elisabeth Morten, chairman of the board, worked closely with Paul and Joanne on the renovation. She recalls, “Paul Newman was an extraordinary individual. His kindness, his generosity and his willingness to fight for things that mattered were legendary, and he was a role model for his family and for all of us. He believed in and supported the work of his wife, Artistic Director Joanne Woodward. Without him, the Westport Country Playhouse could not have succeeded as it did and our theatre, beloved by so many, might no longer be standing today.
“We owe him, Joanne and the entire Newman family an enormous debt of gratitude. Paul gave his time, his artistry and his generosity of spirit to every cause that he felt was worthy, and we count ourselves extremely fortunate to have known him.”
In February 2008, the Playhouse again ignited a buzz when it announced the production of Of Mice and Men, to feature Oscar-winner Paul Newman at the helm. Sadly, Newman passed in September 2008 before the show went on under the direction of Mark Lamos.
The Playhouse continues to transform lives through the power of theater, guided by Lamos, a celebrated director who has deep roots in Connecticut theater. For Lamos, the Playhouse’s new artistic director, working on the stage that has been home to so many legendary actors is like being a part of history in the making. “I fell in love with the theater,” he says of the famed red-barn theater with the celebrated past. As one of the great stage directors with a distinguished career in theater, including seventeen seasons as artistic director of Hartford Stage, Lamos, in his first season, is already luring big-name talent, such as Tony Award-winners Jane Alexander and Stockard Channing, to Westport. Along with a roster of incredible mainstage productions, the Playhouse presents artist talkbacks, new play readings, backstage tours and pre-performance social events, as well as educational programming and workshops. westportplayhouse.org.
NEWMAN’S OWN ORGANICS
In 1993, at the age of thirty-four, Nell Newman founded Newman’s Own Organics, a national organic foods brand that supports the charitable activities of Newman’s Own Foundation. Following in her dad’s footsteps, Nell has made charitable giving a priority She told us: “When people asked my father why he decided to give away all the profits and royalties from the sales of his products, he frequently answered, ‘If people knew how gratifying philanthropy was, they wouldn’t wait until they died.’
“My father abhorred what he called noisy philanthropy. When he first started Newman’s Own, there was no mention of his charitable giving on the label. When I commented to him that it might help to say something on the label, he grumbled and finally put on a statement in the smallest print possible. About ten years ago, he burned his tuxedo and decided not to accept any more awards. Charity and humility are probably the two most important lessons I learned from both him and my mother.
“My business partner, Peter Meehan, and I are proud to carry on Pop’s philanthropic values through our continued support of Newman’s Own Foundation, as well as through our own philanthropy.”
Paul left a legacy that covered a wide swath of interests and issues, among them organic agriculture, supporting Nell and Peter’s formation of Newman’s Own Organics as a division of Newman’s Own. Says Nell, “As the first conventional company to come out with an organic product, Pop’s support led the way. Organic products have averaged 18 percent growth yearly for two decades. I certainly never expected that this venture would lead to MacDonald’s selling our organic coffee!” newmansownorganics.com
FARMERS’ MARKETS & DRESSING ROOM RESTAURANT
Paul Newman and Chef Michel Nischan teamed up to start the Dressing Room Restaurant and the Westport Farmers’ Market in 2007, with hopes of stoking an interest in the natural foods movement here in Fairfield County. Just two years later, Nischan is proud to report that things went so well that he has turned over the farmers’ markets in both Westport and Fairfield to the farmers. With Paul Newman prodding him to think bigger than he imagined, Nischan’s Wholesome Wave Foundation has launched its Nourishing Neighborhoods campaign, which consists of novel farm-to-community programs designed to make locally grown, healthy foods available to people who wouldn’t otherwise have access. He says, “We are doubling the value of SNAP (food stamps), WIC, and senior food assistance benefits in forty-eight markets in nine states and D.C. This is a boon to the residents and also to the farmers who reap the rewards of increased local business.”
Nischan credits Newman for “teaching us to reach beyond what we thought was possible.” The fact that Wholesome Wave now reaches the underserved in forty-eight farmers’ markets, he says, is a “great testament to the work of Paul, who inspired us to do more and reach higher.” At the Dressing Room Restaurant, where Newman was a partner and frequent diner, the staff often offer a toast to Newman with a bottle of his favorite Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale and reminisce about the man who, Nischan says “would have been a great human being whether he was famous or not.” dressingroomhomegrown.com and wholesomewave.org