Newman’s Sued Foundation Needs Healing

If only Paul “The Healer” Newman could come back to life & heal rift between 2 daughters & his Foundation they’re suing over its charitable mission. Kids with cancer or art? Why not both? Both were Newman’s passions …

The WSJ’s backstory of course is Mr. Newman’s legendary gift giving that extended after his death in 2008. “Newman’s Own” products were a key fund feeder to his Foundation created 3 years earlier and even the proceeds of “The Healer” entirely fictional movie (dedicated to Mr. Newman, however, for his many good works while alive) were funneled to it. But, two of Mr. Newman’s daughters now say the Newman’s Own Foundation’s leaders have strayed from their late father’s wishes and have improperly limited the amount of money they were supposed to get each year to give away as they see fit; other business peccadillos are also alleged. And, they want $1.6 million in damages to be donated to the charities of their choosing. But, what the dispute apparently comes down to is this: The daughters want more money spent on their Dad’s artistic & environmental proteges while the Foundation board wants to spend more on Mr. Newman’s childhood endeavors, especially those involving cancer victims.

Really? The Foundation insists the lawsuit is “meritless” and its EO Miriam Nelson said in a May news release: “We believe that if Paul Newman were still alive with us today, he would embrace our focus on kids” with serious illnesses. On the other hand, the daughters say the Foundation’s “reset” mostly eliminated “funding to causes that were important” to their Dad like the arts, climate change and environmental issues.” With so much good will on both side, you’d think they’d find some healing way around this publicly-aired ill-will?

Davd Soul