Gamma Nu Chapter - Phi Kappa Tau

Paul Newman, Ohio ’43, the legendary screen actor who leveraged his celebrity and passion for social causes into a business empire that has donated over $250 million to numerous charities, including his beloved Hole in the Wall Camps, entered Chapter Eternal Sept. 26 at his home in Westport, Conn. He was 83.

Newman was the Fraternity’s most iconic member, having starred in 65 feature films. He reached the highest pinnacle of personal and professional success ever achieved by a Phi Kappa Tau member. Newman’s piercing blue eyes, quick sense of humor and rebellious nature characterized his early film career, which included memorable performances in “Cool Hand Luke” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

He went on to receive 10 Oscar nominations and an Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards in a career that spanned five decades. His work earned accolades at film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Spain, New York, Chicago, and many other national and international locales. His star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame is a destination for Phi Kappa Tau members and movie fans alike.

However, Newman’s impact extended far beyond the silver screen when he became an accomplished philanthropist and a food industry entrepreneur. He founded Newman’s Own, a company that now makes dozens of products, including salad dressing, popcorn, pasta sauce, salsa, lemonade, cereal and, more recently, a line of organic foods. Newman’s Own has donated all of its profits—over $250 million since its founding in 1982—to the Paul Newman Foundation, which has supported thousands of charities.

He co-founded the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1998. The summer retreat in Ashford, Conn., was set up to give critically ill children with special medical needs a chance to spend a week at summer camp. The camp eventually grew into an international network of 13 camps in seven countries that has served over 120,000 children—always free of charge. The camps became his signature cause and have been the beneficiary of much of the Newman’s Own philanthropy.

“If I’m going to leave a legacy,” Newman told reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony of Camp Korey in Carnation, Washington this year, “it’s not going to be my films or anything I do politically. It’s going to be these camps.”

Read the full article on The Link here.