Matt Proulx, senior vice president at Hasbro, recently shared his personal journey from a challenging upbringing to professional success, highlighting the enduring significance of the American Dream in 2026. His story is part of a series presented by the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) in collaboration with The Post, featuring Americans from diverse backgrounds reflecting on the meaning of opportunity.

Proulx grew up in a large family, one of 13 children raised by parents who were deeply involved in foster care and adoption. Over the years, his family opened their home to more than 250 foster children, many of whom faced significant hardship. His parents initially served as a temporary respite household, providing care for children removed from harmful environments while awaiting permanent placements. Eventually, their home evolved into a therapeutic setting for children who had struggled in other foster placements.

A key moment in the family’s story came shortly before Proulx’s father passed away from cancer, when his parents adopted three siblings to prevent them from being separated. Despite the difficult circumstances, Proulx said his parents considered it the “right moral thing to do,” and noted that the siblings have since thrived.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Proulx emphasized the resilience required to overcome adversity. “Sometimes it happens later, sometimes it happens earlier. And those children that were able to move past the hurt, they’re the ones who have actually had a great deal of success,” he said. He also highlighted the ongoing challenge within foster care of breaking generational cycles of hardship.

Proulx described his own rise from poverty as a testament to the possibilities embedded in the American Dream. “I literally had nothing. Came from dirt. We never had two nickels to rub together, but we figured it out and the house was always full of love,” he said. Today, he said, his ability to give back and make a positive impact is central to his understanding of the American Dream—“to continue to advance your life and, to be quite frank, leave the world a better place than how you found it.”

The American Dream Video Project, showcased by MCAAD in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, aims to highlight real stories that demonstrate pathways to opportunity across the country. Additional information about the initiative is available at mcaad.org.