(Statesville, NC – August 7, 2006) When Ryan Newman, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver of the Penske Racing #12 Alltel Dodge, isn’t racing he can often be found fishing in the company of his dogs.

Newman’s favorite pastime has become one of his passions that is supported by his charitable foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Krissie, in 2005. The mission of the Ryan Newman Foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers.

Recently the Ryan Newman Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Trout Unlimited whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. The foundation is also working with the conservation organization to develop programs that enable individuals to help protect rivers, lakes and streams.

Newman says, “I’m a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited because I believe in the work they do to protect the great outdoors. A couple years ago Penske Racing and Motorsports Authentics partnered with us to sell special Ryan Newman/Trout Unlimited merchandise on my souvenir rigs to raise money for TU. I’ve met a lot of NASCAR fans who are avid fisherman like me, and they know how important it is to protect the beautiful land and water that we enjoy today so our grandchildren can enjoy it in the future.”

Trout Unlimited accomplishes their mission on local, state and national levels with an extensive and dedicated volunteer network. TU’s national office, based just outside of Washington, D.C., and its regional offices employ professionals who testify before Congress, publish a quarterly magazine, intervene in federal legal proceedings, and work with the organization’s 152,000 volunteers in 400 chapters nationwide to keep them active and involved in conservation issues.

One program in which Newman is especially interested is Trout Unlimited’s Back the Brookie program to restore the population and range of Appalachia’s only native trout. Brook Trout need the clean, cold water found in mountain streams, and the program teaches people about conservation and protection of these beautiful fish.

Trout Unlimited's Gary Berti explains, "Our volunteers and staff work to restore the conditions brook trout need, and in doing so, create clean water, healthy watersheds and provide downstream conditions favoring other fish like bass, bluegills and sunfish."

“The Ryan Newman Foundation is holding a charity fishing tournament on Lake Norman, NC in December,” explains Newman, “and we’ve invited Trout Unlimited to come out and provide an educational program in the afternoon for the kids. Conservation education is really important.”