Last night The Simpsons aired it’s 20th anniversary show. What does this have to do with walking the dog, you might ask? Well, Sam Simon was one of the shows three original creators, along with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. In the beginning, Simon didn’t think the show had much chance of going anywhere. Obviously he thought wrong. But only four years later, Simon left after negotiating what might be the most lucrative deal in Hollywood. He still gets paid for every episode that airs anywhere in the world, including the episodes that were created since he split. He also gets a percentage of DVD sales and Simpsons based products. He probably makes well over $10 million a year from a show he left back in 1993.
What to do with all that money?
Well, if you’re Sam Simon, you start The Sam Simon Foundation. On a six acre spread in Malibu, The Sam Simon Foundation gives stray and abandoned dogs a new lease on life. Their motto is “Saving the Lives of Dogs to Enrich the Lives of People.” With their mobile veterinary clinic, the foundation travels throughout LA to provide free spay and neuter surgery to dogs and cats belonging to low-income families. The Assistance Dog Program rescues dogs from shelters to become “hearing dogs” for people with hearing-related problems. Assistance dogs in training also make visitations to residents in assisted living homes, and those dogs that do not meet the demands of becoming a certified assistance dog are adopted out by the foundation.
The Sam Simon Foundation does not accept donations, he foots the entire bill. And Simon doesn’t even know what the programs cost year to year, he thinks it’s in the millions. According to Simon when interviewed for 60 minutes two years ago: “It’s well spent just for the pleasure it gives me, honestly.”
Bravo Sam, and thank you.
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