In 1990, U.S. President George H.W. Bush invited Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, who was adopted, to become the spokesperson for a national adoption awareness campaign. Dave knew he could do more, though, and in 1992, he established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
Dave continued to advocate for, and spread the word about, adoption over the course of years. His advocacy included 1997 testimony before the U.S. Congress in support of a tax credit designed to make adoption more affordable for families. In addition, he made appearances in public service announcements promoting adoption, led the initiative to create an adoption-themed U.S. postal stamp and, eventually, expanded the Foundation’s reach into Canada.
Dave passed away on January 8, 2002. Though the world lost a committed advocate for children, his legacy lives on through the Foundation and through the children who have been adopted before aging out of foster care. Though known and respected for his philanthropy and business acumen, Dave Thomas may be best remembered by his tireless efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children in North America.
In 2003, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada was formally incorporated. We work every day in pursuit of Dave’s vision that every child will have a permanent home and a loving family.
