Gaudreau Family 5K Raises $500K For Accessible Playground in New Jersey

The inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day held in May raised over $500,000 to fund the construction of an accessible playground at Archbishop Damiano School, a special education institution in New Jersey where the Gaudreau family has deep ties. The event attracted more than 1,100 participants in person and another 1,100 virtually from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, surpassing the fundraising goal that had been a slow build since 2020. The playground project honors the memory of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, both professional hockey players who were tragically killed by a suspected drunk driver in August 2024 while cycling. Their mother Jane and sister Kristen work at the school, and the playground initiative also pays tribute to their grandmother Marie, who dedicated 44 years to the school before her death in 2023. Groundbreaking is scheduled for late August or early September, with a community build planned to start in early October. Encouraged by the event’s success and community support, the Gaudreau family plans to hold another 5K in May 2026.