| Actor Paul Newman honored America's search and rescue heroes during Backer's Spring Pet Industry Trade Show by making a contribution to the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation, the largest non-governmental supporter of search and rescue teams in the country.
Newman, an ardent supporter of animal-related organizations through Newman's Own Organics (Aptos, Calif.), has become an entrepreneurial folk hero for giving away all of his after-tax profits to educational and charitable organizations.
"Having known several people lost in the World Trade Center terrorist attack, I was very sympathetic to the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation cause, and I therefore designated the Paul Newman charity money to Scott's foundation in 2004 and again this year," said Dennis J. Farrell, director of business development for Newman's Own Organics.
According to Shields, many rescuers pay all their expenses out of their own pockets. "Just the care and training for one search and rescue dog can cost upwards of $6,000 to $10,000 a year. One goal of the foundation is to lessen the financial burden of these brave men and women through funding equipment, training, and transportation to emergencies. It's through the generosity of organizations like Newman's Own Organics that we can better prepare rescuers and ultimately save lives," he said.
The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation was established in memory of America's most decorated search and rescue dog. Bear, along with Shields, led the first rescue teams at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. Bear was credited with finding the most victims, including Chief Peter Ganci of the New York Fire Department.
Bear was wounded at Ground Zero and died one year later of cancer. He was buried as a fireman during a memorial service at the USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York Harbor.
Ironically, Shields once had a business in the same Westport, Conn., building where Paul Newman had his headquarters. Bear often enjoyed pats on the head from members of the Newman family. "To think that Bear would grow up to accomplish great things and that Newman's Own would help the foundation is what I call serendipity," Shields said.
For more information about the Search and Rescue Foundation, visit www.bearsearchandrescue.org
[June 2005 PET AGE]
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