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Dave Thomas' Kindhearted Legacy Toward Adoption
by Kristyn Drysdale
http://www.atlcadoption.com

Who can forget Dave Thomas~ cherubic face as he sold his
Wendy~s hamburgers on TV commercials broadcast into our
home. This successful business person had been a
marketing force for Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried
Chicken (KFC today) for years before launching his own
chain of fast-food restaurants named Wendy~s Old Fashioned
Hamburgers Restaurants. His entrepreneurial spirit
allowed him to turn his restaurants into a successful
franchise throughout the country after starting from
nothing.

An adoptee himself, Dave Thomas became a self-appointed
spokesperson for adoption. In 1990, Dave was asked by
President George Bush to head a national initiative entitled
"Adoption Works-For Everyone" that promoted the adoption of
the approximately 150,000 children in foster care. In 1992,
he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a
not-for-profit corporation. This foundation has for its
purpose to increase the awareness of adoption and to support
model adoption programs. The vision of this worthwhile and
unique foundation is that "every child will have a permanent
home and a loving family." The main focus of the
foundation is to promote the cause of children in foster
care who are in need of a permanent home. Wendy~s
Restaurant chain remains actively involved in the
foundation.

Thomas took the hands-on approach to seeing his Foundation
get off the ground during the starting phase. He went out
to campaign to the public, federal legislation and corporate
policies about issues concerning children in foster care and
the pitfalls of the adoption system. Thomas' main objective
was to see families with adopted children receive financial
provisions, similar to the benefits that biological parents
and their children can eligibly collect. His efforts were
not in vein - in 1993, grants were given to Thomas'
foundation and the American Council on Adoptive Children was
also given a grant to pair 200 foster care children with
parents seeking to adopt.

Since Dave Thomas~ passing, the Foundation and the Wendy~s
restaurant chain have continued a partnership that has
raised a total of $20 million for the Foundation and local
adoption efforts since the outset. Together, they sponsored
a series of programs about adoption on the Hallmark Channel.
Hallmark Cards entered into the venture by designing and
marketing adoption Christmas ornaments. The proceeds from
these ornaments were donated to the Foundation. The largest
grossing fundraiser for the Foundation is the Wendy~s
Three-Tour Golf Challenge. This event raises over $2
million dollars each year.

An undeniable link exists between Wendy's Restaurant and the
drive to improve adoption. Wendy's workers and franchises
feel this force and are dedicated to incorporate this cause
in their marketing efforts. Thanks to Dave's open and
insightful way of life, there is no denying how magically
non-profit programs and entrepreneurial thinking can inspire
great good.

Dave Thomas died on January 8, 2002; he has affectionately
been called "the patron saint of adoption." His legacy
continues through the Foundation that he established.

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