My jwas family
Kiara's speech from the 2026
Evening under the stars dinner
When I think about JWAS, I don’t just think about a foundation. I think about a huge part of my life.
I joined JWAS when I was very little. At that age, I didn’t really understand how important it would become to me. I didn’t know that the people I was meeting would eventually become people I would care about so much, or that I would grow up making memories that I would never forget.
But now that I’m older, I realize just how lucky I am.
JWAS has been there as I’m getting older. I’ve changed, learned new things, met new people, and experienced so many different moments—and JWAS has been a part of that journey.
The people here have watched me grow up, and in a way, they’ve grown with me. They’ve supported me, encouraged me, and made me feel like I always have a place here. That’s why I don’t see JWAS as just a foundation. I see it as family.
Family isn’t always about who you’re related to. Sometimes it’s about the people who are there for you, the people who believe in you, and the people who make you feel like you belong. And that’s exactly what JWAS has been for me.
Some of my favorite memories are because of JWAS. Some of the people I’m most grateful for are because of JWAS. And some of the lessons I’ve learned and the person I’m becoming are because of the experiences I’ve had here.
I honestly don’t know where I would be without JWAS being a part of my life.
I’m so grateful that I got to join when I was young because I got to grow up with this family. I got to experience so much, and I got to create memories that I know I’ll look back on years from now and smile.
As I get older, I know life will change. There will be new experiences, new places, and new chapters. But no matter where life takes me, JWAS will always be a special part of my story.
I will always remember the people who welcomed me when I was little, the people who watched me grow, and the people who made me feel like I belonged.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Thank you for every memory, every opportunity, every lesson, every laugh, and every moment.
Thank you for being there as I grew up.
And most importantly, thank you for becoming a family that I never knew I needed, but that I am so incredibly grateful to have.
I’m beyond lucky to be a part of JWAS, and I will always be proud to say that I grew up with this family.
Thank you.
I joined JWAS when I was very little. At that age, I didn’t really understand how important it would become to me. I didn’t know that the people I was meeting would eventually become people I would care about so much, or that I would grow up making memories that I would never forget.
But now that I’m older, I realize just how lucky I am.
JWAS has been there as I’m getting older. I’ve changed, learned new things, met new people, and experienced so many different moments—and JWAS has been a part of that journey.
The people here have watched me grow up, and in a way, they’ve grown with me. They’ve supported me, encouraged me, and made me feel like I always have a place here. That’s why I don’t see JWAS as just a foundation. I see it as family.
Family isn’t always about who you’re related to. Sometimes it’s about the people who are there for you, the people who believe in you, and the people who make you feel like you belong. And that’s exactly what JWAS has been for me.
Some of my favorite memories are because of JWAS. Some of the people I’m most grateful for are because of JWAS. And some of the lessons I’ve learned and the person I’m becoming are because of the experiences I’ve had here.
I honestly don’t know where I would be without JWAS being a part of my life.
I’m so grateful that I got to join when I was young because I got to grow up with this family. I got to experience so much, and I got to create memories that I know I’ll look back on years from now and smile.
As I get older, I know life will change. There will be new experiences, new places, and new chapters. But no matter where life takes me, JWAS will always be a special part of my story.
I will always remember the people who welcomed me when I was little, the people who watched me grow, and the people who made me feel like I belonged.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Thank you for every memory, every opportunity, every lesson, every laugh, and every moment.
Thank you for being there as I grew up.
And most importantly, thank you for becoming a family that I never knew I needed, but that I am so incredibly grateful to have.
I’m beyond lucky to be a part of JWAS, and I will always be proud to say that I grew up with this family.
Thank you.