Latest news with #Newman'sOwnFoundation
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How A Pizza Truck Quietly Flipped The Script On Tax Day Freebies
On April 15, as most Americans are deep in spreadsheets or staring down tax software at the eleventh hour, a food truck near Bryant Park is offering something completely different: a hot slice of pizza, a cookie, a lemonade—and the chance to decide what it's worth. No suggested prices. No pressure. Just a question: how much are you willing to pay when every dollar goes to help a child? That's the idea behind the Pay What You Want Food Truck, a nationwide campaign from Newman's Own that invites customers to swap obligation for generosity. The initiative launches this Tax Day in Manhattan and will travel the country through October, bringing mission-driven meals and flexible pricing to cities like Philadelphia, D.C., Charlotte, and Atlanta. It's not just a campaign. It's a shift in how brands ask for attention—and what they offer in return. Tax Day is a national ritual that rarely feels generous. Whether you're filing for a refund or scrambling to submit an extension, the day is usually wrapped in a sense of stress, scarcity, and financial reckoning. It's one of the few collective moments when nearly everyone in the country is thinking about money—and what's being taken from them. Promotions that appear on Tax Day—Buy-One-Get-One, $1 promos, free anything—offer a moment of lightness in a very transactional day. But they still follow a familiar formula: spend a little, get a little, move along. Newman's Own takes that idea one step further. This isn't just about giving people a deal. It's about giving them agency in how they contribute—and how they feel doing it. 'We wanted to create a moment that feels joyful, generous—and yes, delicious,' said Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation. It's a campaign that invites not just a purchase, but a pause. And in a moment where brand fatigue is high and consumer trust is brittle, that invitation reads differently. For families navigating a particularly tough year, that pause might mean everything. According to the USDA's 2023 report on household food security, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in food-insecure homes. That means dinner may depend on what's available at school. It means weekends can feel long and hungry. It means fast food is often the only food. So when a brand offers a meal—and says you decide what it's worth—it doesn't just feel generous. It feels like an acknowledgment of the reality many families are living in. It also reframes the very idea of 'value.' In a year when the cost of eating out has risen 4.2%, and fast food prices are up 4.8%—according to the March 2025 Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—the Pay What You Want model isn't just kind—it's radical. This food truck isn't just delivering comfort food. It's revealing something about how consumer behavior is shifting. We're living in a time when loyalty programs dominate. Every coffee costs less if you download an app. Every burger is cheaper if you join the rewards club. But what those systems really sell is compliance: click here, sign up there, opt in to be marketed to later. Newman's Own is betting on something older—and maybe more powerful: the warm glow effect. As Jessica Andrews-Hanna, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, explains, moments of giving can trigger what's known as the 'warm glow effect'—a theory suggesting that when we give to others, we experience a lingering emotional lift. 'It leaves a warm fuzzy feeling in ourselves that persists over time and creates a glow of kindness about us,' she said in a 2022 university interview. That's what makes this campaign different. It doesn't lean on urgency or scarcity. It doesn't turn generosity into a marketing funnel. Instead, it offers a single, quiet choice: pay what you want—and trust that it will help someone else. The NYC kickoff on April 15 is more than symbolic—it's strategic. The truck will be stationed on 40th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., serving a compact but crowd-pleasing menu: pizza, salads, cookies, coffee, lemonade, and yes—even dog treats. There's no suggested donation. No QR code to scan. No opt-in. Customers can pay $1, $10—or anything above the $0.01 minimum required to process a transaction. The only ask? Consider what the meal is worth—not just to you, but to the cause. 'Whether people choose to 'pay' $1.00, $10.00, or $100.00 for a slice or a salad, it's in fact a donation to the Foundation and our mission,' said Amouyel. 'We are proud to see the Pay What You Want Food Truck continuing Paul Newman's legacy of radical giving.' The initiative also introduces 'Paul's Pit Crew'—a team of creators and brand ambassadors named in honor of Newman's racing legacy. A nationwide casting call will run alongside the tour to help share stories from the road and amplify the campaign's impact in real time. This year, Newman's Own aims to raise $500,000 through the tour, expanding well beyond last year's 20-stop pilot. According to the brand, customers in 2024 consistently paid more than the retail price of their meals—underscoring a simple truth: when people believe their dollars matter, they show up. Tax Day is full of transactions we can't control. But a meal like this? That's different. In a year where brand trust and consumer values are colliding more than ever, the Pay What You Want model is a rare thing: generous, transparent, and anchored in impact—not optics. And on a day when most people are giving to the government, this truck gives them a chance to give to each other.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newman's Own, Inc. Kicks Off "Pay What You Want" Food Truck Tour on Tax Day
Customers choose what they pay for Newman's Own food and drinks, with 100% of the proceeds going to Newman's Own Foundation to help kids who face adversity. WESTPORT, Conn., April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Newman's Own, Inc., the food and beverage company known for delicious, high-quality ingredients and giving 100% of its profits away, announces the first stop of its "Pay What You Want" Food Truck tour. On April 15, National Tax Day, the Food Truck will park near Bryant Park on 40th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Customers can decide what they pay for Newman's Own pizzas, salads, cookies, coffee and even dog treats, with every dollar going to Newman's Own Foundation to help kids who face adversity. With 1 in 5 U.S. children living in food insecure households, according to USDA Economic Research Service's 2023 report, "Household Food Security in the United States in 2023," the tour aims to raise $500,000 by asking: How much is a slice or salad worth to you when every dollar helps kids? Running through October, the "Pay What You Want" Food Truck will travel the eastern seaboard and southern U.S., rotating the menu to offer consumers several ways to help reach the donation goal. On April 15, Newman's Own will also kick off a nationwide casting call for "Paul's Pit Crew," paying homage to Paul Newman's racing career. The brand ambassadors will travel to key locations with the Food Truck, sharing behind-the-scenes moments and impact of the initiative on social media. Interested candidates will soon be able to apply on the Newman's Own website; the company will announce the selected ambassador in May. "We're excited to bring back the Pay What You Want Food Truck bigger and better than before, flipping the script this Tax Day," said Rob Master, Chief Marketing Officer of Newman's Own, Inc. "With an expanded tour, hundreds of stops and the search for Paul's Pit Crew, we'll reach more communities than ever and benefit more children in the process." The Pay What You Want Food Truck first launched last year serving pizza and making over 20 stops to test the power of the pay-what-you-want model. Across all cities, customers paid more than the average retail prices, proving that people give generously when they know their purchase makes a difference. This year, the truck will visit communities surrounding cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte and Atlanta, bringing delicious meals and snacks made from high-quality, recognizable-ingredients to local, family-friendly events. Inspired by company founder Paul Newman's original mission, the Pay What You Want Food Truck builds on Newman's Own long-standing "Give it All Away" model, where 100% of profits go to the Foundation and its mission to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. Since 1982, Paul Newman and Newman's Own Foundation have donated more than $600 million to good causes—all funded by the millions of consumers who purchase Newman's Own products. Today, Newman's Own Foundation grantee partners promote nutritious food in schools, support Indigenous food justice, and through SeriousFun Children's Network, create positive childhood experiences for kids living with serious illnesses. "We are proud to see the Pay What You Want Food Truck continuing Paul Newman's legacy of radical giving," said Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation. "Whether people choose to 'pay' $1.00, $10.00, or $100.00 for a slice or a salad, it's in fact a donation to the Foundation and our mission, to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity." To learn more about the Newman's Own Pay What You Want Food Truck tour, visit or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn. To learn more about Newman's Own, visit To learn more about Newman's Own Foundation, visit About Newman's Own, Own is a brand of delicious, high-quality food and beverage products with a unique business model for good. 100% of the profits and royalties made from the sale of Newman's Own products go to Newman's Own Foundation in service of its mission, to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. Learn more at Media ContactMckenzie Millermmiller@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Newman's Own
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Newman's Own Launches All-Year Effort to Honor a Long Legacy of Giving
This Week: Paul Newman's 100th Birthday Marked by Official Proclamation of PAUL NEWMAN GENEROSITY DAY in Westport, Connecticut WESTPORT, Conn., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of what would have been Paul Newman's 100th birthday, Newman's Own declared January 26th, "Paul Newman Generosity Day," as a new annual giving holiday. In this inaugural year, the holiday will mark the start of a series of generosity initiatives throughout the year. Paul Newman's greatest legacy isn't only his acting career—it's his philanthropy—notably through Newman's Own. Since 1982, Paul Newman and Newman's Own Foundation have donated more than $600 million to good causes—all funded by the millions of people who purchase Newman's Own delicious food products. Newman's Own is continuing that legacy by inspiring generosity with a celebration of Paul Newman's extraordinary impact as an iconic actor and philanthropist who championed the power of giving back. Paul Newman once said, 'helping others is a delight.' 'That's the heart of this movement. Paul Newman Generosity Day is designed to inspire acts of generosity in real life and online, and to introduce Paul Newman's generous spirit to a new generation. It underscores that Newman's Own Foundation continues Paul Newman's commitment to use all the money that it receives—100% of the profits and royalties—from the sale of Newman's Own delicious food products in service of its mission. "Paul Newman Generosity Day is a call to action and the start of a series of generosity initiatives that we will continue as a campaign throughout the year," said David Best, President and CEO of Newman's Own, Inc. "Paul created a brand that makes purchasing the products an act of kindness. We want to inspire more people to find other ways to make a difference." "Paul Newman's legacy in creating the Newman's Own 'Give It All Away' model was radical 40-plus years ago, and it continues to be incredibly unique today. At Newman's Own Foundation, our donors are the millions of people who buy our products, and we believe that everyone has something to offer when it comes to helping others, with their time, their money, and their influence," said Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation. Highlights of the Campaign Inaugural Ceremony and Media Event The campaign kicked off with an official naming ceremony at Newman's Own headquarters in Westport, CT on January 27, 2025. Highlights included a proclamation from the First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, a 4-foot tall cake in the shape of the original salad dressing bottle, media representatives and members of the Newman's Own community in attendance. Event photos can be viewed here. Generosity Social Media Challenge People are encouraged to explore the "Acts of Generosity" list on Newman's Own's website for inspiration and share their own acts on social media, utilizing the hashtag #PaulNewmanGenerosityDay to spread the movement.. A Year Long Generosity Initiative January 26, 2025 kicked off an inaugural annual giving holiday, Paul Newman Generosity Day, with planned generosity initiatives throughout the year to honor Paul Newman's 100th Birthday. Join the Movement For more information on how to join in, visit and follow us on social media @NewmansOwn to join the Paul Newman Generosity Day challenge, utilizing this hashtag: #PaulNewmanGenerosityDay. About Newman's Own Newman's Own is a brand of delicious, high-quality food and beverage products with a unique business model for good. 100% of the profits and royalties made from the sale of Newman's Own products go to Newman's Own Foundation in service of its mission, to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. Learn more at MEDIA CONTACT: newmangenerosity@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Newman's Own Sign in to access your portfolio
