When the world came to Houston for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Ann Richards School Class of 2022 alum Cielo Reyes Reyes helped make the experience more welcoming, accessible, and meaningful for everyone.
As a student at Rice University studying sport management and sports medicine and exercise physiology, Cielo spent the past year serving as a Human Rights and Sustainability Intern with the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host Committee. Her work supported initiatives focused on accessibility, worker protections, human trafficking awareness, and community resources, all designed to ensure the tournament left a positive impact that extended well beyond the final match.
One project that was especially meaningful to Cielo was FREEKICKS Houston, a legacy program that expanded access to club soccer for young people in underserved communities. Growing up, scholarships made it possible for Cielo and her younger brother to play competitive soccer, so seeing today’s students receive those same opportunities brought her journey full circle. She shared that helping create lasting opportunities for young people through sports is the kind of work she hopes to dedicate her career to.
That passion for serving others didn’t begin at Rice. It started years earlier as a sixth grader at the Ann Richards School.
After seeing children spend the holidays at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Cielo organized a toy drive for patients at the hospital. What began as one student’s idea grew into a school tradition that continued for five years as fellow Stars joined her effort to bring joy to children during the holiday season. Her dedication to giving back earned her the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Austin Chapter’s Kelly Davidson Memorial Outstanding Philanthropic Youth Award in the fall of 2021, recognizing the lasting impact she made while still a high school student.
Looking back, it’s easy to see that Cielo’s path has been shaped by a commitment to service. Whether she was collecting toys for children in Austin or helping create a more inclusive FIFA World Cup experience in Houston, she has consistently looked for ways to make a difference.
Cielo’s story reflects the mission of the Ann Richards School, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate all she has accomplished and can’t wait to see the impact she continues to make in the years ahead.
