WILKES-BARRE BUSINESSMAN FINISHES IRONMAN CONTEST;
RAISING NEARLY $42,000 FOR FOSTER CARE ADOPTION
WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 27, 2007) - On July 22, Rich Pais, a local businessman, finished the ninth annual Ford Ironman USA Triathlon near Lake Placid, New York in 13 hours and 20 minutes placing 1,124 in a field of 2,200 with one focus in mind: foster care adoption.
Supporting Pais’ endeavor, Wendy’s® restaurants of Wilkes-Barre asked customers to help raise money for foster care adoption and support Rich’s efforts by donating $1 for two free Frosty Float coupons. Other fundraising programs leading up to the race included a bike rally and the sale of racing jerseys. The combined effort raised nearly $42,000 for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. All proceeds benefit the Foundation and its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.
Said Pais, “I thought often about the kids I saw on the course (thousands of them) and all the people I know who are involved in someway in the world of adoption. And it kept me going in ways that are unexplainable unless you were there.” Pais’ family includes one adopted child and one foster care child.
Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption said, “We are very proud of Rich’s participation and finish in the Ironman competition. Combining his energy in this premiere athletic event and passion with foster care adoption has been extraordinary. Many people know that our founder, Dave Thomas, was adopted and this is a great way to support our local Wendy’s Wonderful Kids partner and give back to our community.”
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America’s foster care systems waiting to be adopted. Created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who was adopted as a child, the Foundation leads programs such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which puts adoption recruiters in all 50 states and Canada to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system, and Adoption-Friendly Workplace, which encourages employers to offer adoption benefits to their employees. For more information visit www.DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption.org.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s International Inc. (NYSE: WEN) is one of the world’s largest and most successful restaurant operating and franchising companies. More information about the company is available at www.wendys-invest.com.
CONTACT:
Rita Soronen, Executive Director
PHONE:614.764.8482
EMAIL: rita_soronen@wendys.com