Westport EMS Awarded Newman's Own Foundation Grant

WESTPORT, CT - From Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service: Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service has been awarded a $35,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman.

Newman’s Own Foundation made the award to celebrate 35 years since Paul Newman began the food
company bearing his name. Westport Volunteer EMS is one of the original recipients of Newman’s
generosity.

This funding will help Westport Volunteer EMS (WVEMS) save lives and educate others in the Westport
community. WVEMS, with nearly 120 volunteer EMS providers who proudly donate over 18,000
volunteer hours annually, is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 with the mission of supporting the
Town of Westport Emergency Medical Service. WVEMS relies on grants and donations to fund and
maintain a fleet of state-of- the-art emergency vehicles, including three ambulances, two paramedic SUV
“fly-cars”, a bike team, and Connecticut’s first EMS motorcycle unit. Each year Westport EMS responds to
nearly 2,500 emergency medical calls, and WVEMS trains over 1,500 citizens in CPR, EMR and EMT
classes.

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service is dedicated to volunteering the gift of life. “We are
thankful for this life-saving grant and proud to say it will serve our community with every 911 call that we
respond to, with every class that we teach, and with every life that we save” said Yves Cantin, EMT Crew
Chief and WVEMS President.

“Paul Newman wanted to help make the world a better place, and he said, ‘What could be better than to
hold out your hand to those who are less fortunate?’” recalled Bob Forrester, President and CEO of
Newman’s Own Foundation and Executive Chairman of Newman’s Own. “We are privileged to continue
his extraordinary mission through our support for Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service and
other organizations doing important work.”

Newman’s Own Foundation is giving $35,000 to 15 of the nonprofit organizations that were originally
funded and have been supported for over three decades. The Foundation continues Paul Newman’s
commitment to give all profits and royalties from the sale of Newman’s Own food and beverage products
to charity. Since 1982, more than $495 million has been donated to thousands of charities around the
world.

Image via Pixabay