While Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews is known primarily as a goal scorer, he has come up big with an assist for Pelham Cares. The NHL superstar, along with the Leafs, donated a framed – and signed – jersey to the agency to be raffled to raise funds for Pelham Cares’ sport and recreation subsidy for youth.
“A member of our board has a contact with somebody who knows Auston Matthews,” said Gayle Sears, Pelham Cares executive director. “He was contacted directly, and he was really happy to support us, which is great.”
So naturally, Sears thought what better way to help fund sports and recreation than to raffle off the jersey.
“We thought we would get out in the community and sell raffle tickets so that everybody could have a chance to win it and also support what we're doing,” Sears said.
Pelham Cares has been providing families with $500 per year to help pay for sports and other recreational actives, Sears said.
“A big, a big part of what we use the money for — in co-operation with the Town — is sending kids to summer camp.”
Demand for the program is also on the rise, Sears said.
“We helped out 47 students last year,” she said, adding that this was almost double the previous year. “We've got quite a few applications that have come in already in 2025 and we're wanting to be ready so we can support everybody who applies.”
Tickets for the jersey raffle are $20 each and are limited to just 375, Sears said.
Volunteers will be selling tickets at the Meridian Community Centre on Sunday, March 2, during the Pelham Panthers home game versus Port Colborne Sailors at 2:45 p.m. After that, volunteers will be “around town a little bit,” Sears said. The agency will also be at the Fonthill & District Kinsmen Home Show on April 12 and 13 at the Meridian Community Centre.
The draw for the jersey will be made on April 15.