On July 4, The Post, in partnership with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, brings together US citizens who describe what the American dream means to them in 2026 – including Matt Proulx, senior vice president at Hasbro. who grew up in Rhode Island.
Everyone deserves a chance in life. Everyone. Whatever your background, whatever your upbringing, you deserve a chance. Now, it is up to you what you do and do with that opportunity.
I am actually one of 13 children. My parents adopted 11 children. We were a foster family as well, and we had more than 250 children come into the house … in some cases, there is a lot of pain and suffering that I have seen some of these children go through. Over time, they are able to eliminate it. Sometimes it happens later, sometimes it happens earlier. And those children who were able to overcome the pain, were the ones who had the greatest success.
My parents started out as a temporary vacation family [for] children who had to be removed from their homes because of bad conditions, before they could find a permanent family or a permanent family. Over the years, our family grew into a medical family – basically all kids who didn’t make it [other] adoptive families. So we always held the most challenging situations. When I look back at some of the stories, you see the worst that humanity has to offer and can do. But at the same time, amazing pieces of what humanity can do with it.
A few months before my father died, my mother and father decided to adopt three other children who were siblings. And if my parents didn’t take them, they would be separated into different families. So my parents, even though we knew my dad was going to pass away from cancer, it was the right thing to do – to keep these kids together.
And they are actually thriving. Doing amazingly well … In foster homes, of course [always the question of] ‘Can you break the cycle?’ And if you have a chance to rest [a cycle] that affects generation after generation.
The American Dream? I live every day. I actually had nothing. A mess appeared. I always say we never had two nickels to rub together,but we understood and the house was always full of love.
And I look at what I have now. And the ability to give that back to people – that’s it. It’s about continuing to improve your life and, frankly, leaving the world a better place [how] you got it.
The American Dream Video Project showcases true stories that illuminate the paths to opportunity. Hosted at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. MCAAD is Washington, DC’s new cultural center, offering exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.
