Paul Newman was one of America’s great actors. I can’t think of a bad Paul Newman movie. What I liked about the guy was that even with his hard work, he said luck was a major part of his success. Paul’s most famous quote, out of the movies, was “I want to acknowledge luck. The benevolence of it in my life and the brutality of it in the lives of others.” He died almost five years ago but not before founding Newsman’s Own a food company with author A.E. Hotchner in 1982. It started by passing out his homemade salad dressings to his friends for the holidays as gifts. When the product was starting to get into demand the company was put together with $40,000 of seed money by the Newman and Hotchner. Newman was quoted in 1982 of his initial intentions regarding distribution of his company’s profits: “My profits will be divided between a number of tax-deductible charities and causes, some church related, others for conservation and ecology…” The first year profits were $300,000 and Newman declared, “Let’s give it all away.” In 2005, Paul established Newman’s Own Foundation to ensure the company’s philanthropic outreach would continue. Get this, last year the organization hit a new milestone and gave $370 million in contributions to non-profit organizations worldwide. Most of us will not be able to give back to society anything like Paul Newman but last week Cape Girardeau resident Bill Dunn was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Old Town Cape for his long term love and care for the downtown Scholarship Garden, which has resulted in a $10,000 Southeast Missouri State University Scholarship. Bill gives back with his time and talents. Both Bill Dunn and Paul Newman have set great examples for all of us to follow. Perhaps we should all ask ourselves what can we give back.Paul Newman/Bill Dunn