Introducing Irianna Reece, 2026 Youth of the Year
Each year at Heartshare’s Brighter Futures Benefit, we honor a young person whose journey reflects the strength, accomplishments, and potential at the heart of our American Dream Program. On October 15, 2026, we recognized Irianna Reece, a first-year student at St. John’s University studying neurobiology, as our 2026 Youth of the Year. Her story reflects what’s possible when young people have the support, opportunities, and caring adults they need to pursue their dreams.
Below, read Irianna’s acceptance speech from the evening, in full.
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Imagine having only one person in the world who truly sees your potential. Picture being surrounded by family members who belittled you, humiliated you, and dismissed your dreams. Imagine only having one person who believes you can achieve any goal. Now imagine losing that one person and being left without the only support system you had. That wasn't just my imagination, it was my childhood.
When my grandmother passed away, I lost the only person who believed in me without hesitation. I was left with so many questions. Why are some families happy and healthy, when mine was broken? Why did the adults in my life normalize negativity and abuse? Without guidance, who would I ask for help? How would my past shape my future? Without support, I thought my only choice was independence.
I grew up believing that if I didn't do something myself, no one would. While many people have someone to teach them how to cook or help them learn basic life skills, I had to figure everything out on my own. I took care of my siblings, went to school, cleaned, cooked, and carried responsibilities that no child should have to carry.
Even though I became strong because I always persevered, I eventually reached a breaking point. Right before high school, I was placed into foster care. I thought life couldn't get any darker. I felt like I would always have no mom, no dad, no permanent home, and no sense of security. I questioned everything. How would I get into college? How would I keep my grades up while juggling the challenges of foster care? My grades weren't the best, anxiety consumed me, and self-doubt convinced me that I simply wasn't good enough. I stopped fighting because I believed my future had already been decided. I thought foster care would put me in a box. I thought I would spend my life supporting everyone else without anyone to support me.
My life followed the same routine every day: school, then home. I wasn't even allowed to participate in after school activities. Still, I wanted more for myself, so I took a chance and made a decision that changed my life. I joined Heartshare's American Dream Program during my freshman year of high school.
I was matched with a high school coach who believed in me before I believed in myself. She helped me improve my grades, connected me with a tutor, stayed in contact with my guidance counselor, and constantly reminded me that I was capable of more than I could see.
For the first time in a long time, someone invested in my future. Through the program, I learned career readiness, professionalism, and life skills that prepared me for adulthood. I interned with the Vice President of Youth Development and Community Programs, as well as for the CEO and Chief of Staff of Heartshare. Those experiences gave me confidence, leadership skills, and professional opportunities I never imagined I'd have.
The American Dream Program also gave me experiences that expanded my world. I traveled to several states to meet with HBCU representatives and students pursuing higher education. I met with executives and donors to share my story and advocate for youth in foster care. I became a co-founder of Heartshare's very first Youth Council, where I developed my leadership skills while creating opportunities for other young people like me. One of my most meaningful experiences was volunteering at Council Member Rita Joseph's Luggage of Love event, where I helped provide luggage to children entering foster care. Standing there, I wasn't just helping youth in foster care, I was helping children who reminded me of myself.
The American Dream Program didn't just give me opportunities. It gave me a community. It gave me mentors. It gave me people who poured into me when I felt empty. They taught me resilience, leadership, and the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone. Most importantly, they taught me that my circumstances did not define my future. Because of their support, I graduated high school a year early. I was accepted into my dream school, St. John's University, where I'm taking classes that answer the questions I've been asking for years. I'm majoring in biomedical science so that I can finally understand what shapes human behavior. I want to become a neurobiologist to research the brain and how both biology and upbringing influence the choices we make. I have big dreams now and I know they're not only possible but within reach.
Before the American Dream Program, I believed success wasn't meant for someone like me. I thought excelling in school, attending college, building meaningful relationships, and finding stability were dreams reserved for other people. Now I know better. I know that my past does not determine my future. I know that foster care does not define my potential. I know that one caring community can change the entire direction of someone's life. For all that I've endured and every moment I wanted to give up, the American Dream Program taught me that my dreams only remain locked if I stay trapped in my past. With a village that believes in you, a mentor who refuses to let you quit, and even a mustard seed of belief in yourself, those dreams begin to unlock.
The American Dream Program didn't simply change my life, it gave me the future I once thought was impossible. I didn't just overcome my circumstances, I broke the cycle I thought I was destined to repeat.
Today, I no longer live in survival mode. I live with purpose, hope, and excitement for the future. I know I can be independent, but I don’t have to be. I don’t just have to rely on myself because I have a support system to back me up. The American Dream Program helped me discover the life I was always capable of living.
Thank you.