Now that Benjamin Ayres is back home in Toronto after months of filming Hallmark’s new “When Calls The Heart” Gold Rush-era prequel series, “Hope Valley: 1874,” he’s back in the saddle at Romance University — the inspiring community of rom-com fans with whom he’s raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities since 2023.
From hosting special events to auctioning off movie wardrobe items from Ayres and his fellow Hallmark stars, the initiative has raised funds and awareness for a wide range of causes, from women’s shelters to support programs for cancer patients. Now Ayres has a new trick up his sleeve, but he needs fans’ help to make it happen.
Here’s How to Participate in the Romance University Postcard Party
GettyAyres is inviting fans to send him postcards from wherever they live, with notes about whatever they want — from feedback on his new show to tidbits about their own lives to favorite recipes.
Promising to read every postcard that comes in, Ayres told EntertainmentNow he plans to share many of the messages in his periodic Instagram videos over the next several weeks. All of the postcards will be compiled into a one-of-a-kind scrapbook, which will also likely include reflections from Ayres and his responses to some of the questions that come in.
Romance University behind-the-scenes helpers Vanessa Londry and Amy Kram are coordinating the effort with Ayres, including creating and auctioning off the final book, with the money going to a yet-to-be-named charity.
“It’s really a kind of fun community, collaborative initiative to bring everybody together,” Ayres said. “Tell us what it’s like where you’re from, put a recipe in there, write whatever you want. I just want everybody to know that I’m the one receiving them and that it’s a cool way for me to learn about everybody out there.”
Postcards can be sent to the following address by May 1, 2026: ROMANCE UNIVERSITY, PO BOX 1338, Toronto, Station K, ON, MP4 3J4, Canada.
Benjamin Ayres Wants to Emulate the Sense of Community Built Among the Pioneers in ‘1874’
After filming “Hope Valley: 1874,” Ayres gravitated to the old-school charm of asking fans to send postcards rather than emails or texts. Playing rancher Tom Moore, who’s navigating the many changes occurring on the Canadian frontier in the late 1800s, Ayres said he was reminded of “the importance of cooperation, especially collaboration and community” of that time.
“You needed that to survive back then, and now you don’t,” he told EntertainmentNow. “A bit of that meaning and purpose has been removed from our lives. While, yes, it was a struggle (to live) back then, that sense of community was also a gift and beautiful.”
Ayres never imagined his original idea for Romance University — with a mock logo emulating an Ivy League school — would resonate so much with fans (whom he calls Alumni), all eager to be part of a community that values connection, generosity, and a good old-fashioned love story.
All it takes to become part of the movement is following the Romance University Instagram page and/or signing up for the free newsletter to keep up with the latest community-building and charity-supporting initiatives.
Meanwhile, the first four episodes of “Hope Valley: 1874” are currently available to stream via Hallmark+, with new episodes dropping each Thursday.
That’s a really sweet idea from Benjamin. I’ve always appreciated actors who connect with their fans like that.
Where do we send them too?
But you left out one important piece to this entire story…where do we send them? He won’t be getting any if you don’t provide an address!
The address is in the article.
Address is right below the logo – at the earlier part of this post – in red letters
The address is included twice in the article. I’m wondering if the postage for sending a postcard from the U.S. is the same cost. I will look it up on the USPS website.