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Going for the Gold for Children Waiting in Foster Care: Kenny Bednarek’s Story
Kenny Bednarek is an American track and field sprinter and two-time Olympian competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics. He recently spoke with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption about his experience being adopted from foster care and how his journey has made him who he is today. Read More
By The Foundation
July 25, 2024
How Chesapeake Energy Corporation Supported Matt Through His Adoption Journey
Matt, an IT End User Support Supervisor at Chesapeake Energy, and his wife decided to grow their family through adoption. Matt’s employer supported them during the six-month adoption process. Today, Matt’s family is complete. Read More
By The Foundation
July 23, 2024
Aging Out of Foster Care: Keith’s Story
Keith spent the first three years of his life in foster care before being reunified with his father. Unfortunately, due to ongoing neglect, he was placed back in the system and remained in foster care until he aged out at 21. Read his story and learn how to support the 50 young people who age out of foster care daily in the United States. Read More
By The Foundation
July 22, 2024
How Fifth Third Bank Helped Deneen Become A Parent
Deneen, an employee at Fifth Third Bank, dreamed of becoming a parent for years. When she and her husband decided to adopt two children, her employer made her dream a reality through adoption benefits. Today, Deneen’s family is grateful for the support that Fifth Third Bank offered during their adoption journey. Read More
By The Foundation
July 8, 2024
2024 Recruiter of the Year: Tyler from Ohio
During the 2024 Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recognized Tyler, a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter with Caring for Kids in Ohio, as a Recruiter of the Year. Read More
By The Foundation
June 28, 2024
2024 Recruiter of the Year: Cyndi from Georgia
During the 2024 Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recognized Cyndi, a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter at Bethany Christian Services in Georgia, as a Recruiter of the Year. Read More
By The Foundation
June 28, 2024
2024 Recruiter of the Year: Amy from North Carolina
During the 2024 Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recognized Amy, a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter with Children’s Home Society in North Carolina, as a Recruiter of the Year. Amy’s passion for achieving permanency for children in waiting in foster care is evident in how she diligently approaches implementation of the child-focused recruitment model. Read More
By The Foundation
June 28, 2024
Forming Unbreakable Bonds Toward Hope and Healing: Preston’s Story
After being placed in foster care due to abuse, Preston waited five long years for a loving, forever family. Thankfully, his journey changed when he was adopted by Melissa and David with help from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. With his family by his side, Preston worked through trauma and received the support he needed all along. Read More
By The Foundation
June 26, 2024
Changing the Journey: Ellie’s story
Born into a family in which she suffered years of abuse, Ellie missed three years of school before being placed in foster care as a teenager. Her journey changed when she was adopted at age 19 through the Foundation's Wendy's Wonderful Kids program. Read More
By The Foundation
June 25, 2024
My World Is So Much Brighter
The Foundation originally shared Maci’s adoption story in October 2018. We caught up with her in June 2024 to hear how having the support of a permanent, loving family has changed her journey. Read More
By The Foundation
June 25, 2024
How Carter’s, Inc. Supported Hannah Through Foster Care Adoption
Hannah, Senior Director of Ecommerce Site Merchandising at Carter’s, Inc., fostered for one year before adopting her son. Through her employer’s adoption benefits, Hannah smoothly transitioned into this new stage of life. Today, with the continuous support of her employer, Hannah’s family is thriving. Read More
By The Foundation
June 12, 2024
How Fatherhood Can Change A Life
Read some of the ways fatherhood has impacted the lives of Jamar, Brian, James, Geffrey and Ken, all of whom adopted their children with support from the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. Read More
By The Foundation
June 1, 2024