Todd S. Ricks Joins Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Board of Trustees
Columbus, Ohio — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national, nonprofit public charity, welcomes Todd S. Ricks as a member of its board of trustees.
Ricks is the Owner and Director of Operations at Classic Foods, Inc., which is a Wendy’s® franchisee with 10 restaurants in Idaho. Ricks and his brother-in-law have been business partners and Wendy’s owner/operators since 2009. He is the current Idaho Falls/Pocatello DMA president, a position he’s held since 2007. In 2024, the DMA received the Diamond Award, which recognizes outstanding local marketing and community efforts by franchisees. Todd loves working in the Wendy’s business to help build community, value and purpose with a new generation of Wendy’s team members.
“I grew up on a farm in Idaho in a big, hard-working family. When I was a teenager, my father became a Wendy’s franchisee and that has largely shaped my life,” said Ricks. “To have been a part of the Wendy’s family back when Dave Thomas was alive and now join the Foundation’s board, dedicated to continuing his legacy of helping children waiting for a family, is a great honor.”
“Todd’s history with the Wendy’s company and his roots in Idaho will bring a perspective from a state in which we hope to grow our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program,” said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “Todd knows the business from the mop bucket to balance sheets. His knowledge will help us grow relationships within the Wendy’s family and identify new opportunities for engagement with our cause.”
Through its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption provides funding to adoption agencies to support the hiring of adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. A rigorous, five-year evaluation revealed that the model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings. To date, more than 525 Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters have found forever families for more than 15,500 children in foster care across North America.
“My wife, our children, their spouses and our grandchildren bring me so much joy. My family is my biggest accomplishment,” said Ricks. “I believe that every child should get to experience that joy.”
“Todd’s commitment to our vision of a permanent home and a loving family for every child and deep understanding of the Wendy’s system is the perfect marriage for helping to guide our board,” said Soronen. “I look forward to working with him as we move the Foundation into the future.”
Todd lives in Idaho Falls with his wife and is an active member of his church. He also recently served on the board for the East Idaho Aquarium.
About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for the more than 130,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.
