Fond Loving Parent

www.flparent.com

Dave Thomas' Kindhearted Legacy Toward Adoption
by Kristyn Drysdale
http://www.atlcadoption.com

When the burger business was considered all tapped out and
the topic of adoption was spoken only in quiet corners when
no one else was around, Dave Thomas had a refreshing take on
both subjects that he would successfully share with the
world. What was Dave Thomas' appeal? His Wendy's
commercials showed a pretty ordinary man with a cherub face
selling us good old fashion hamburgers. Behind this
ordinary facade was a pretty extraordinary man who could
quietly get his point across. Dave began as a great
businessman with Colonel Sanders' KFC (formerly Kentucky
Fried Chicken) before launching his own eating place with
his daughter's name called Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Restaurant. Not long after stepping out on his own, his
restaurant quickly spread into a familiar franchise, worthy
of McDonalds to notice.

Did Dave have some personal touch that spoke to his loyal
employees and the general public? Many think his honest
approach to business and his personal affairs help him
openly discuss his childhood experience with adoption. In
time, many saw Dave as a self-appointed representative about
this stigmatized matter. Former President Bush in 1990 saw
Dave's impact on the public's perception of this issue and
asked Dave to be the official spokesperson of a nationalized
program, "Adoption Works For Everyone". Well, former
President Bush's selection was the right one - nearly
150,000 foster children benefited from this incentive and
were adopted. Dave felt he could do some more good by
starting his own program called The Dave Thomas Foundation
For Adoption. The purpose of this program was simple -
heighten awareness about adoption and formulate working
adoption programs. The main idea of this foundation is to
see "every child have a permanent home and a loving family".
>From this vision, the foundation concentrates on lifting
the world's awareness about children in foster care and
inspire those who care to adopt. Wendy's still remains
focused on the Foundations' goals and aspirations.

Thomas was hands-on during the beginning years of this
Foundation's formation. He took on awareness campaigns to
heighten the public's perception of children's lives in
foster care. Thomas was so involved that he personally was
on a mission to see federal legislation and corporate
policies allow financial provisions for families who sought
adoption of these floating children. Thomas was bound and
determined to see these families receive the same benefits
administered for biological parents and their children.
Thomas' aspirations came to light in 1993 when his
foundation was awarded grants for these adoptee parents.
Also, in the same year, American Council on Adoptive
Children was able to match 200 foster care children with
parents who wanted to adopt.

Dave Thomas' inspiring efforts live on today through his
franchise and his Foundation. Joining together, Wendy's and
Dave's Foundation fuel adoptions and raise millions of
dollars. Thanks to their momentum local adoptions have
increased and over $20 million has been raised through
various donations, fundraisers and other programs. For
example, Hallmark Cards felt so inspired after watching
Dave's televised programs about adoption on Hallmark Channel
that this company decided forward proceeds from specially
designed and marketed Christmas ornaments to his Foundation.
Another successful fundraiser for this cause is Wendy's
Three-Tour Golf Challenge, which brings in about $2 million
every year.

The adoption cause and Wendy's Restaurant chain are
permanently linked. Even at the local level, Wendy's
workers and franchises dream up ways to market this drive
through the restaurant. Not surprisingly, a not-for-profit
incentive and the entrepreneurial way of life are mixtures
that make great things happen.

Dave Thomas died on January 8, 2002; he has affectionately
been called "the patron saint of adoption." His legacy
continues through the Foundation that he established.

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