Grade 2/3 class vying for Auston Matthews’ attention with kindness campaign

A Grade 3 class is making daily Instagram videos vying for Auston Matthews’ response in a kindness/cooperation campaign. CTV London's Scott Miller reports.

“There’s no I in team,” chanted Mrs. Gordon’s Grade 2/3 class at Tara-Arran Elementary School.

The class of seven- and eight-year-old students are trying to get captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews to like, share, or comment on their Instagram reels, focusing on teamwork and community.

“We’re trying to get him, Auston Matthews, to reply. Because he’s a really good person, he goes to visit Sick Kids hospitals,” explained eight-year-old Leah Gunson.

Gordon’s class plans on making 34 videos in honour of his jersey number, to try and get Matthews’ attention.

They’re currently on reel number 25.

“We’re doing it because we started off with our Giving Loonie Project, and then we started to do this,” said seven-year-old Goldie Snyder.

Last October, as part of a national project about food insecurity, Gordon’s class collected food for the Tara Area Food Bank. For their efforts, the class got their own highway billboard, promoting food donations for the less fortunate.

That led to a Giving Loonie Project, where kids were expected to do something good and kind with a loonie.

In January, the Auston Matthews Project began, reaching out to the Maple Leafs’ star to try and spread their message of teamwork even further.

“The idea is getting the message across that one person can make a difference, but, when many people come together, we can make big things happen,” explained teacher Barbara Gordon.

So far, their daily Instagram reels haven’t received a response from Matthews. He is in Italy right now, but Gordon’s students hope that after the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Matthews might just drop them a virtual thumbs up.

“It would mean a lot to us,” said Gunson.

“It would be really awesome. Together, you can make a team,” added seven-year-old Ermalou Parker.

“Life is just so hard in general right now. Financially and, you know, a lot of mental health issues going on. This has just been a bright light,” said Gordon.

You can check out the Auston Matthews Kindness Campaign on Instagram at @apostadayforaustonmatthews.