Gaudreau Family 5K raises more than $500,000 for accessible playground at special education school
August 1, 2025
The Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run has raised more than $500,000 to build an accessible playground at Archbishop Damiano School in southern New Jersey. The event in May drew thousands, with more than 1,100 participants in person and virtually. The playground honors hockey players John and Matt Gaudreau, who were killed by a suspected drunk driver last August. Their mother and sister work at the school, where their grandmother also worked for 44 years. The playground will feature wheelchair accessibility and ramps. Groundbreaking is set for late August or early September, with the next 5K planned for May 2026.