Stories

Adoption professionals — Chelsey of Utah, Shantell of New York and Tasha of Indiana — recently joined actress, singer and foster care adoption advocate, Jen Lilley, on the Fostering Hope podcast to share how COVID-19 is impacting children waiting to be adopted from foster care. Read More

Placed in foster care at age 3, Korie moved in and out of more than 30 foster homes before she was 16. "I thought, 'I’m going to end up on the streets,’" Korie recalls. "That’s just how it’s going to be." Fortunately, Korie’s journey changed when she was adopted through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. Read More

Utah — Ellie was adopted at age 19 through the Foundation's Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. To those still waiting to be adopted: you are worthy of love and happiness … you are worthy of having hope … and you are worthy of a forever family," she writes. Read more reflections from Ellie. Read More

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption welcomed Mike Zak as a member of its board of trustees, serving a three-year term. Zak is the owner of The Wenzak Companies, a Wendy’s® franchise organization, which owns 35 restaurants in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. "I can’t think of a better way to honor my friend [Dave Thomas] than to serve in this role and encourage others to support the Foundation’s commitment to finding permanent, loving homes for children waiting to be adopted from foster care.” Read More

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is proud to announce an expansion of its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®, to find adoptive homes for children in Michigan's foster care system. This unique public-private partnership between the Foundation and the State of Michigan will fund 37 adoption professionals to serve youth at highest risk of aging out of foster care. Read More

Washington — "Now, we have a forever home," says Lilliana, who was adopted with her siblings Michael and Roman through the Foundation's Wendy's Wonderful Kids program. The adoption took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Florida — "There is no hole in my heart anymore," says Daisy, who spent the first two decades of her life without a permanent home. Now, at 22, she finally has a forever family. With support from the Foundation’s Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, Daisy was adopted in Florida's milestone 100th virtual adoption. Read More

The Foundation is steadfast in our commitment to social justice and is determined to stand with and act in support of the Black community to advocate for policies that end structural racism, address the overrepresentation of Black children in America’s foster care system, and promote equitable opportunities for every child. Read More

Missouri — Jermesha, Floyd and Jermain were separated for five long years while in foster care. Their world changed when Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter Edna came into their life. “Siblings belong together,” shares Edna, “They come in to foster care together, they share trauma together, they have that bond.” Read More

Colorado — In an op-ed for the Daily Camera, Wendy's Wonderful Kids adoption professional Chelsea says she and her colleagues are fighting harder than ever for the youth they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We must shine a spotlight on this crisis and act, so that every child has the loving, permanent home they deserve," she writes. Read More