|
     
|
|  |
Building A Legacy One Burger And Adoption At A Time
by Kristyn Drysdale
http://www.atlcadoption.com
Who can forget Dave Thomas~ cherubic face as he sold his
Wendy~s hamburgers on TV commercials broadcast into our
home. This successful business person had been a
marketing force for Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried
Chicken (KFC today) for years before launching his own
chain of fast-food restaurants named Wendy~s Old Fashioned
Hamburgers Restaurants. His entrepreneurial spirit
allowed him to turn his restaurants into a successful
franchise throughout the country after starting from
nothing.
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.
In the early years of the Foundation, Dave Thomas personally
participated in raising awareness about adopting children
from foster care. His efforts resulted in federal
legislation and corporate policies that provided financial
assistance to families who adopt these children, similar to
benefits that biological parents receive at the birth of a
child. By 1993, the Foundation was awarding grants for
parent recruitment campaigns and the initial grant to the
American Council on Adoptive Children placed 200 children
with adoptive parents. In the same timeframe, the Internet
was used for an innovative pictorial campaign that showcased
children waiting for permanent homes. This site is
administered by the National Adoption Center and has been
the recruiting site for thousands of adoptive parents.
The inspiration that Dave Thomas started while he was living
continues to benefit Wendy's and the Foundation's joint
effort to help spur adoptions. Together, Wendy's and Dave's
Foundation have raised around $20 million and watched local
adoptions gain momentum. One of these generous donations is
the result of the Foundation's sponsored programs about
adoption on the Hallmark Channel. Thanks to these programs,
Hallmark Cards felt inspired to design and market Christmas
ornaments in the concern of motivating adoption. Another
successful way that the Foundation has brought in donations
is through its yearly Wendy's Three-Tour Golf Challenge.
This fundraiser builds about $2 million annually.
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.
Since Dave Thomas' passing on January 8, 2002, he has been
dubbed "The Patron Saint of Adoption" and his foundation
fruitfully carries on his legacy.
Submit An Article
|
©
COPYRIGHT 2005 ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED fdbaby.com
|
Get Exposure For Your Site! Advertise with us.
Click
Here For Details
on a Great Deal! |
|
|
Would you like
more information on baby?
Sign up here for our mailing list. You will get great information
before it becomes available on our website!
|
|
