Stories

By Robyn Oldenburg Robyn Oldenburg, of Washington, adopted her daughter, Winter, through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. Robyn says when she learned of the need for teenagers to be adopted, she was moved to action. Winter was in foster care for nine years before she came home to me. […] Read More

Professional golfer, Austen Truslow, is on a journey to achieve his dream of playing on the PGA Tour. Last year, he launched a campaign to help children in foster care realize their dreams of a permanent, loving family. “Golf is an individual sport, and it can sometimes feel as if you are only serving yourself,” […] Read More

After spending more than six years in foster care, Miah was adopted by the McClellan family when she was 15 years old. “I knew I had room for children in my home and my heart,” says her mother, Charita. Charita is an employee of Bank of America, which has been recognized on the Dave Thomas […] Read More

By Krista Stotler Krista Stotler and her husband, Larry, of Texas, have adopted five children from foster care, including siblings Steven, Celeste and Elijah through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. They are a self-described “fast-paced, active, fun, God-loving, gospel-sharing, animal-loving, board-game-playing, movie-binging, love-one-another, forgive-along-the-way family.” Adoption is tremendous. It […] Read More

With the increase of children entering the complex child welfare system in need of quality foster care and adoptive homes, it is essential to maximize every avenue to find permanency and stability for these children. And yet, as states work to increase the rosters of potential foster and adoptive parents, they are struggling with how […] Read More

Foundation committed to finding adoptive homes for the more than 30,000 children waiting in Canada’s foster care system Burlington, ON — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada recently welcomed Paramjit Bains as a member of its board of trustees. Bains is a division vice president for WTC Ventures, managing the company’s 29 Wendy’s restaurants in […] Read More

“Family is the single most important influence in your life,” says Dave Postowoj, a Wendy’s franchisee in Ontario, Canada and a longtime supporter of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Dave lost his wife, Frances, in 2016 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Before she passed away, the couple decided to include a gift […] Read More

By Carly Calhoun Carly Calhoun and her husband, John, knew they wanted to grow their family through adoption. The couple from British Columbia has adopted six children, including siblings Alicia and Tristin through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. They want anyone considering adoption to know that children in foster […] Read More

The Adoptive Families Association of BC is a proud partner site for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids in British Columbia. In an article for the organization’s Focus on Adoption magazine, Rita Soronen, president and & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada, explains how the program’s child-focused, evidence-based approach is finding adoptive homes for children in […] Read More

Sean Niklas is President of Saren Restaurants, Inc., a Wendy’s franchisee in Chicago, IL. Adopted as a newborn, he has committed his life to giving back through his restaurants and as a longtime supporter of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. By Sean Niklas My life truly began five days after I was brought into […] Read More