Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau widows announce foundation to honor late husbands
A new charitable foundation is honoring the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed last August while bicycling together in Salem County, New Jersey.
Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of late Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, and Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s widow, have launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation as co-presidents. Madeline Gaudreau recently gave birth to Matthew's only child, while Meredith Gaudreau is pregnant with her and Johnny's third child.
The stated goal of the JM Foundation is, "to continue giving back to what the boys are passionate about and to ultimately continue to make a positive impact on the world in their honor.”
Donations can be made online at johnandmatty.org or by mail payable to The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, 560 Sylvan Ave., Ste. 3070, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.
Funds raised will be used to “promote and expand youth hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies, as well as help families that are, unfortunately, also affected by drunk driving, like ours.”
The Gaudreau brothers were bicycling along the side of a two-lane road Aug. 29 last year in South Jersey after attending their younger sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner. They were killed by Sean Higgins, who prosecutors say struck the Gaudreaus with his SUV while trying to pass a slower vehicle. According to police, Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of .087, which is above the state's .08 legal limit.
Higgins was jailed and faces six criminal charges that include aggravated manslaughter. Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau filed a civil suit that was settled in late February with Higgins’ insurance company, which has agreed to pay a $500,000 settlement for the widows to split.
They now plan to honor their husbands’ memories by helping people through the JM Foundation.
“Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to creating a safer and more inclusive community,” according to a joint statement from the foundation’s co-presidents. “On behalf of our families, we thank you for being part of our important mission and for helping us honor John and Matty’s legacies amidst so much heartbreak and tragedy. We hope to make them proud!”