Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

05/29/2026

On Sunday, June 14, at Center Street Market in Hilliard, OH, Crooked Can Ohio will host a summer carnival from 1 to 4 p.m. in support of the Foundation's mission 🎪✨

Thank you, Crooked Can Brewing Company, and all event sponsors for championing our mission to find homes for the longest-waiting children in foster care. With your support, we can continue to make an impact for the more than 100,000 youth who are still waiting for a safe, permanent family 🫶

Thank you to:
Credit Union of Ohio
Destination Hilliard
Center Street Market
Dot's Tots Foundation
Erica Carlson Children's Entertainment
Fantasy Faces
Team Northwoods
The Studio on Bridge

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/get-involved/find-host-event/

05/28/2026

We're urgently working to inspire more people to open their homes and their hearts to a child waiting for a family, and our Public Service Announcements (PSAs) help make that happen ✨

Recently, you might have spotted...

📰 Print PSAs appearing in Harvard Business Review and Forbes

🗣️ New Spanish PSAs featured on social media and our website

✈️ Billboards in the Atlanta, Denver, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, Mobile, Nashville and Los Angeles airports as well as on signage in cities across the United States, including Puerto Rico

If you see one of our PSAs in your community, please take a photo and tag us to help us spread the word about the more than 100,000 youth in foster care waiting for a forever home ♥️

05/27/2026

Did you know? Of all the children currently being served by the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program in the United States and Canada, 91% are older than age 8 and 15% have been in foster care for four years or more.

CJ, who joined his permanent family through legal guardianship, was part of both of these groups. At the time his legal guardianship was finalized, he was 15 and had been in foster care for over eight years. RJ, his Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter, was instrumental in his journey to permanency. Now, RJ is sharing his thoughts on the importance of family for teens in foster care and his words of encouragement for anyone considering adoption.

Are you dreaming of providing a safe place to land for youth in need? Comment and we will send you a link to our Step-by-Step Guide to Adoption to start your journey ❤️

05/26/2026

🚨There are only 4 days left to take advantage of the $15,000 match opportunity in honor of National Foster Care Month 🚨

Every donation made by 5/31 will be generously matched up to $15,000 by Hikma Pharmaceuticals, so your gift will help even more children waiting for a permanent family now 🫶

Will you help us reach our goal before the month ends?

https://giving.davethomasfoundation.org/page/FUNJNEEKQLC?s_src=C26K1ED4C

05/24/2026

"It’s much funner growing up with your family.” — Patty, adopted with her brother Johnathan

We couldn’t agree more! This National Family Fun Day, we’re celebrating more than 16,000 children who are having fun with their forever families after being adopted through the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program 🎉

We’re working toward a world where every child will have a safe, permanent home to call their own 🫶

If you have room in your home or your heart for a child in need, our Adoption Guide is a great first step. Download it & start your journey today: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/resource/finding-forever-families-a-step-by-step-guide-to-adoption-us/

05/23/2026

Wondering why you should donate to the Foundation through your IRA? Here are a few reasons to consider:

☑️ Your gift will be put to use today, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making.

☑️ If you are required to take minimum distributions, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your obligation.

☑️ You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.

☑️ Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it can reduce your annual income level. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.

Learn more: https://davethomasfoundation.myplannedgift.org/give-from-your-ira

NOTE: The information in this post was accurate at the time of posting. It is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor.

05/23/2026

Today, we’re celebrating Marcy Bursac, a committed foster care adoption advocate, author and mother who was recently honored by Women of Achievement for her efforts to champion adoption and spread awareness about the more than 100,000 children in foster care who still need forever homes 🏠

Congratulations, Marcy, and thank you for all that you do to support our mission!

05/21/2026

The Potter family, who adopted with help from the Foundation, was featured this month on FOX 4 News in Dallas. They shared their foster care adoption story to help celebrate National Foster Care Month.

Isaiah, Jordan and Sophia were adopted into their forever home in 2021. Now Isaiah is preparing to go to college, Jordan is exploring his musical talents and Sophia is excelling in school with the support of their loving parents, Adrian and Shane. And they were able to share their story as they celebrated five years together as a family ❤️

Watch the segment HERE:

A Dallas family is sharing the realities behind foster care adoption; the joy, the challenges and the healing journey that followed.

05/20/2026

Without the support of a loving, permanent family, CJ was struggling after more than eight years spent in foster care.

“He was done with everything,” Jessica, his mom, explained. “He wanted a family.”

When CJ told his best friend, Henry, how he was feeling, Henry immediately went home and told his mom, Jessica, that they should welcome CJ into their home. Jessica agreed to get to know him, and after some time spent building a relationship with the help of CJ’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter, RJ, CJ became a part of their family through legal guardianship 🏠💗

With the love and support of his family, CJ has become more hopeful about his future. “When I first met him, he was like, ‘I’m not going to school.’ And now there’s talks of possibly going to college, or possibly doing a technical school,” Jessica shared. “I see a huge future for him.” ☀️

More than 100,000 children like CJ are still waiting for a permanent family. Learn more about how you can help: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/get-involved/

05/19/2026

Right now, over 100,000 children in foster care in the United States are holding out hope for the love and support of a permanent family ✨

THANK YOU to Smash Park Westerville, Smash Park La Vista, Smash Park Des Moines and Smash Park Roseville for supporting the Foundation through the sale of a charity cocktail! In honor of National Foster Care Month, 15% of every charity cocktail sold throughout May will generously be donated to the Foundation.

The support of Smash Park and its customers is helping make a life-changing difference 💞

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/get-involved/find-host-event/