Benjamin Ayres is busy making magic again. The Hallmark Channel star kicked off September 2025 with his latest fundraiser for Romance University — the online community of Hallmark rom-com fans that he started on a whim in late 2022. The initiative has grown with each year, with fans connecting online and raising tens of thousands of dollars for various charities.
This time, Ayres has teamed up with fellow Hallmark hunk Tyler Hynes to raffle the shirts off their backs, raising money for families impacted by cancer. With each raffle ticket costing just $10, Ayres told EntertainmentNow that the money raised will be divided between the Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation and Gilda’s Club, started by late comedian Gilda Radner.
Benjamin Ayres & Tyler Hynes Will Send Wardrobe Items From Recent Movies to Raffle Winners
Among the items up for grabs in Romance University’s raffle is the one-of-a-kind “World’s Best Santa Trainer” sweater that Ayres wore in his 2024 movie “The Santa Class” — featuring his own face and working Christmas lights on the front. Meanwhile, Hynes has also donated a swanky suit from one of his recent movies.
In addition to their one-of-a-kind movie wardrobe items, the raffle also includes signed items from Hynes (like his Boot Shot gift boxes and coffee table photo book), a bracelet handmade by actor and jewelry-maker Ryan Paevey, and an assortment of Romance University hoodies and gear.
Raffle tickets are available for $10 each through September 12, 2025. Ayres said he will pull the winning tickets and announce the winners during an Instagram Live on September 15.
Ayres, who will star in the 2025 movie “A Christmas Angel Match” with Meghan Ory, says his favorite part is delivering the checks personally to the organizations and thanking the volunteers for their important work.
“So many people have been affected by cancer, whether themselves or somebody within their family or a close friend,” Ayres told EntertainmentNow. “I just feel so fortunate to have created something like Romance University, where people feel safe about donating money and trust that it’s going to be sent to these places that need it.”
Benjamin Ayres Says Organizations’ Focus on Helping Families Impacted by Cancer is ‘So Beautiful’
The two organizations that the raffle will benefit focus on helping cancer patients and their loved ones thrive, Ayres told EntertainmentNow.
“What’s so beautiful about it is that there’s (the patient) that’s affected with cancer, but then it’s their family, too, privately processing that, and these organizations think about that,” Ayres said.
When Romance University raised money in 2024 for the Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation, for instance, the funds helped them hold a retreat for families, explaining, “Everybody goes and hangs out and plays games and stuff like that. For those families to have support groups and speak to others, as somebody within their family is suffering, I just thought, ‘That’s so beautiful and so amazing.'”
“So I reached out to Ty,” Ayres said of the idea to raffle off clothing and other items, “and he was like, ‘I’ll give away a suit. 100%. I love it.'”
The Romance University raffle tickets can be purchased online for $10 each through September 12.
