it all started as a joke

By Megan Carroll, Marketing Coordinator, SeriousFun Children's Network

Many successful start-ups have two things in common – a good idea and a garage. Newman's Own is no different; the movement started with Paul Newman's all-natural salad dressing recipes and the passion for good food for a good cause.

Evolving from an annual holiday frenzy making salad dressing for friends and family from his basement, Newman's business has grown to international proportions and has raised more than $400 million for thousands of charities over 30 years.

The idea of selling Paul Newman's salad dressing started as a joke between two old friends, Newman and A.E. Hotchner, with the idea to use Paul's personal recipe as the first product for a small business. Paul agreed to shamelessly exploit his celebrity status by putting his face on the label – but only if all of the profits went to charity.

Initially, getting the salad dressing through the production process was a challenge. Since Paul swore to use only natural ingredients, processing and packaging facilities had a hard time filling his orders. However, after finally bottling the dressing and distributing it to local stores, its popularity led the team to think bigger. While many others scoffed at the idea of a company giving away all of its profits, the Newman's Own model has proved to be not only sustainable, but also a way of securing customer loyalty. From the original olive oil and vinegar salad dressing, the company has expanded to 100 products in nine categories and has been credited with helping to popularize a natural food revolution.

Newman's Own Foundation, the philanthropic entity created to continue Newman's legacy, has given hundreds of millions of dollars to many deserving charities around the world. The organization supports causes that encourage philanthropy, serve children with life-limiting conditions, engender empowerment, and promote nutrition.

Newman's Own Foundation has been pivotal in the continuing expansion and evolution of SeriousFun Children's Network. We are so proud to be one of the organizations that receive financial support and strategic guidance from the Foundation to help seriously ill children attend life-changing camps all over the world.

It may have started as a joke, but the impact of Newman's Own has been quite the opposite; it has and will continue to change the lives of countless people for the better.

Connecticut Public Television recently produced a documentary chronicling this remarkable story, "Give It All Away: Newman’s Own Recipe for Success."