To honor the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau about the birthday of their death, the NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames every Friday announced donations in the names of the brothers.
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The NHL and Blue Jackets each donate $ 13,000 – in honor of Johnny’s No. 13 – and $ 21,000 – in honor of Matthew’s No. 21 – to the John and Matthew Foundation.
The Flames donate $ 34,000 – 13 + 21 – to mothers against driving under the influence in Canada.
On August 29, 2024, Johnny and Matthew were killed when they were hit by an alleged drunken driver accused by the car by car of two counts while cycling in New Jersey.
Johnny, who played his first nine NHL seasons with the Flames, prepared for his third with the Blue Jackets. Matthew, who would have turned 30 last December, prepared for his first season as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia rebels of the North American Hockey League.
On August 12 – what would have been Johnny’s 32nd birthday – his widow, Meredith and Matthew’s widow, Madeline, appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” ​​to publicly launch the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
“We have tried to take our time all year round, do things well and we have already been able to accept many donations,” Meredith told NHL.com on Monday. “Many people really spread the word, so we wanted to make sure we took our time.”
The foundation, which was officially launched in March, not only helps to maintain the memory of the Gaudreau brothers, it also gives back to the hockey community and the world in general.
“It was never lost on John of Matty how hard their parents (Guy and Jane) worked to get them where they were,” said Meredith. “John would always say that he could not have much of the resources he had if his father was not his (hockey) coach. We thought we could give something back to other youth hockey clubs.
“Dan wilden we ook andere hockeyfamilies helpen die te maken hebben met tragedies en andere gezinnen helpen die getroffen zijn door rijden onder invloed, omdat helaas, aan het einde van de dag, daarom zijn we hier. John en Matty zouden altijd kleine klinieken samen met kinderen doen. Zodra Matty werd gespeeld, ging hij over in coaching, dus het helpen van jeugdorganisaties is iets dat iets is dat tot beiden sprak.”
A statement on the website of the foundation says: “John and Matty have made a huge and eternal impact on everyone who knew them. In addition to their hockey talents, the boys were known for their kindness. The aim of the foundation is to keep giving back what the boys are passionate about and ultimately have a positive impact on the world in their honor.”
A grain called “Bond of Brothers” has also been developed for the benefit of the Gaudreau Family Foundation. The grain, cinnamon celebrations, as a tribute to Johnny’s favorite breakfast cereals, was launched by Ty Ballou, President and CEO of PLB Sports & Entertainment, a company in Pittsburgh that creates high -quality food products in collaboration with the world’s best athletes, entertainers and brands. Ballou has developed various grains, including Flutie Flakes, with former NFL Quarterback Doug Flutie.
Ballou wanted to participate after watching the video -first of the Blue Jackets to Gaudreau.
“I thought,” I have to do something here, “Ballou said.” So I put my hand out to the agent of the Gaudreaus and started there and called her and I said, “This is a crazy thing, you don’t know me, but I want to do something to help the family. I do a little grains.
“I have children, I have grandchildren. And this is just my way, you just have to do something, you just have to help people, people you don’t know. It’s great to help people you know, but when you see something like that, and I feel blessed that I have the ability to do this in my small, weird grain world.”
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