Paul Newman has passed away at age 83. He died of cancer Friday at his home in Westport, Connecticut, said spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic.

This is terribly sad news — as Newman was not only well-known for his legendary roles in Hollywood, but also for his incredible devotion and giving to charity and the arts. He was a constant presence here on Ecorazzi and the absolute benchmark for philanthropy in business. Here’s a brief excerpt from a statement released by his Newman’s Own Foundation this morning,

What started as something of a joke in the basement of his home, turned into a highly-respected, multi-million dollar a year food company. And true to form, he shared this good fortune by donating all the profits and royalties he earned to thousands of charities around the world, a total which now exceeds $250 million.

“While his philanthropic interests and donations were wide-ranging, he was especially committed to the thousands of children with life-threatening conditions served by the Hole in the Wall Camps, which he helped start over 20 years ago. He saw the Camps as places where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back, and raise a little hell. Today, there are 11 Camps around the world, with additional programs in Africa and Vietnam. Through the Camps, well over 135,000 children have had the chance to experience what childhood was meant to be.

Back in June, we reported that Newman had transferred over his entire stake in Newman’s Own — the popular salad dressing and foodstuffs company — to his charitable Newman’s Own Foundation. The value of this extraordinary gift was said to be almost $120 million. Incredible.

So, we wish Newman’s family the best during this difficult time. To the man himself, we simply say thank you. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many. Thank you for entertaining and bringing smiles to audiences everywhere. And thank you for a life so well lived.

“I wanted to acknowledge luck; the chance and benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, who might not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.”– Paul Newman

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About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

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