Nell Newman, President
Nell co-founded Newman's Own® Organics: The Second Generation® in 1993 as a division of her father’s company, Newman’s Own, and became independent in 2001. ‘Great tasting products that happen to be organic’ is the company’s motto. In 2015, Nell's company became a part of Newman's Own again and she moved on to enjoy her continuing passions related to philanthropy, sustainable agriculture and conservation.
The daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Nell had an early introduction to natural foods at their rural Connecticut home. The family had a small apple orchard and a few chickens. Nell learned to cook from her mother and how to catch fish from her father. While in college, she continued to experiment in the kitchen, and is still the designated chef when home for family holiday dinners.
She attended the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, graduating with a B.S. in human ecology & worked briefly at the Environmental Defense Fund in New York. She then moved to northern California and served first as the Executive Director of the Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary and then the Development Director for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group.
Nell's commitment to organic foods and sustainable agriculture led her to convince her father to let her establish an organic division of Newman's Own. She won him over by creating a completely organic Thanksgiving dinner, and then suggesting organic food products for the new Newman's Own Organics’ line. "All of Newman's Own Organics’ products are ones that Dad enjoyed, so we chose ones that he really loved," states Nell. She credits her parents with teaching her, by example to be socially responsible, politically involved, and philanthropic.
An ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, Nell is a sought after speaker and has participated in numerous panels, sharing her commitment to organic food and products made from organic ingredients. "By utilizing organic ingredients, we’re supporting the environment through the growth of organic agriculture,” says Nell.
Nell’s thoughts on how to make a difference are highlighted in her book, The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live (Villard, 2003), written with science writer Joseph D’Agnese. It is filled with realistic, practical advice on why living a more environmentally conscious life helps us all.
To support the philanthropic values of her family, Nell started The Nell Newman Foundation in November of 2010. In addition to her work with the Nell Newman Foundation, she currently serves as a board member for Ecotrust, located in Portland, OR.
James Cox, Treasurer and secretary
James cast wide into subjects that improve what we eat, where we live and how we interact with nature. Years before it was in vogue, James pioneered green, sustainable techniques and materials for manufacturing including developing the use of organic cotton and organic hemp and linen from the ground up - crops otherwise notorious for high pesticide use.TerraPax, Inc., a company he established in 1992, manufactures fashionable carrying bags from only natural, sustainable material – a company with zero waste from manufacturing is an oft-copied model for authentic ecological brands. James sold the international entity after ten successful years. James is currently president of Green in the Black, a strategic planning company guiding emerging brands through the green market landscape. Providing strategy, content, design, engineering, and marketing – Green in the Black makes the sustainable obtainable and profitable. He is also the CEO of MethodSeven, bringing advanced optics to the hydroponic industry. He is on the advisory board of the Western Environmental Law Center, which has been defending the American West since 1976 with a team of brilliant attorneys and strategy. James also recently joined and the advisory board for Atria Systems, which is developing and marketing fire suppression chemicals which are safe both for the natural and human environment. James received a B.A. in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic.
Evelyn Fasheh, ADMINISTRATive director
Evelyn Fasheh serves as the Administrative Director for the Nell Newman Foundation. She graduated from CSU, Monterey Bay back in 2013 and has done previous work in events and office management. When she is not working, she is a full-time mom and loves spending time with her family and friends and being outdoors.
If you have any questions you can contact Evelyn at: evelyn@nellnewmanfoundation.org