Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, deeply understood the profound impact of a loving and stable family. Having been adopted himself, Dave was driven to extend that opportunity to children in foster care. His personal experience fueled a lifelong commitment to advocating for adoption, leading him to establish the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® (DTFA) in 1992. Central to the Foundation’s mission is the renowned Wendy’s foster care program, known as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a testament to Dave’s vision of ensuring every child has a permanent home.
The Wendy’s foster care program directly addresses the critical need to find adoptive families for the over 150,000 children waiting in foster care across North America. Recognizing that some children, particularly those who have been in the system for extended periods, face greater obstacles in finding homes, the Foundation developed Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. This impactful initiative employs an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. Through strategic partnerships with states and organizations, the Wendy’s foster care program funds and supports the hiring of dedicated adoption recruiters. These recruiters are trained in a specific methodology proven to be significantly more effective – up to three times more effective – at connecting waiting children with loving adoptive families compared to traditional methods.
Dave Thomas’s dedication to adoption stemmed from a deep-seated belief in its transformative power. His involvement extended to the highest levels of government, as evidenced by his role as spokesperson for President George Bush’s White House Initiative on Adoption in 1990. However, Dave wanted to do more than just raise awareness. He aimed to dismantle the bureaucratic hurdles and financial burdens that often deterred families from pursuing adoption. This ambition gave rise to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the cornerstone Wendy’s foster care program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.
The success of the Wendy’s foster care program lies in its focused approach and proven methodology. By investing in trained recruiters and evidence-based strategies, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, is making tangible progress in its mission. Every child placed in a permanent, loving home through the Wendy’s foster care program is a testament to Dave Thomas’s enduring legacy and the unwavering commitment of the Foundation to his vision. As Dave himself articulated, “If we can get one child adopted into a loving family, all our work will be worth it.” This simple yet powerful statement encapsulates the heart of the Wendy’s foster care program and its profound impact on the lives of countless children.
