AN OPEN LETTER TO PAUL NEWMAN

January 12, 2005

New York City

Dear Mr. Newman:

Last fall, during the fundraising drive on WNYC, Brian Lehrer urged listeners to donate money because you had promised that if they could raise some ridiculous amount of money in a ridiculously short amount of time, you would match that money & double the donations. Let's say it was $10,000 in one hour, but that might not even be close.

So, I didn't give a lot of money, but I did donate during that hour because I felt like it would be a shame if WNYC came close to meeting the goal but not close enough. I didn't want to be responsible if they didn't get the matching money.

I also admit that I felt inspired to donate because the match was from you. I don't know if I've ever seen you in a movie besides "The Color of Money" with Tom Cruise, which I would've seen because of Tom Cruise, not you (no offense), so I cannot say I like your acting. I just know that you are famous for being a "good person." I've heard people mention your name, and the conversation goes something like this: "[blah blah blah] Paul Newman." "He's such a good person. Think of all he's done."

I think some of the profits from your salad dressings and sauces and other foods are donated to charity. I also think you might be pro-vegetarian, which makes me happy because I am quite pro-vegetarian myself. I guess you could say I'm a fan of your generosity and goodness, but generically.

I probably should research what it is you do that gives you your reputation for being good, but I probably won't think of it when I'm online or in the grocery store. Anyway, you did inspire at least one person to give a small amount of dough to WNYC last fall.

So, keep up the good work.

DMH