2022 Annual Report

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO

Dear Friends,

In this 2022 annual report, you will learn about the signature programs, partnerships and awareness-building efforts that are empowering the Foundation’s work to find forever families for more children lingering in foster care right now.

While much of the world has adapted to living with COVID, the devastating effects of the pandemic on children in foster care and their families will be felt for years to come. This makes the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s work more urgent than ever.

Thanks to the unwavering dedication of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® adoption professionals and our caring community of donors, more than 12,000 children have been adopted through our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program across the United States and Canada. Children like Dalton and Dawson, whose lives have been forever changed because of supporters like you.

Please, take a moment to read their stories and other highlights of our impact together over the past year.

July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

Read the Full Report

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Impact

(As of June 30, 2022)

During our 2022 fiscal year, we continued expanding our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, including new partnerships to scale the program in Indiana and Mississippi, while working to deepen and sustain our impact in phase one expansions.

Stories of Growth

Brothers Dalton and Dawson spent three years in foster care waiting for a permanent family.

Dawson worried constantly about his older brother and struggled in school. Dalton, who has cerebral palsy and other medical diagnoses, weighed just 44 pounds at 10 years old.

Thankfully, the boys were adopted through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids by Robbin and Steven in 2017.

We have shared stories with you in the past from youth adopted through our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, including Dalton and Dawson, Ellie and Tonya. We checked in with their families, and in this year’s annual report, we are excited to update you on how they have grown with the stability of a permanent home.

Supporter Spotlights

The following individuals represent the growing number of generous donors who are passionately helping to grow the Foundation’s impact. We are humbled to share some of the many reasons they support our mission.

Wendy's® Gives Back

For more than 30 incredible years, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Wendy’s have had a special relationship built on a shared commitment to achieving our mutual founder Dave Thomas’ vision that every child will have a permanent home and a loving family. Below are a few highlights of the countless ways that the Wendy’s family helped the Foundation grow in the last year.

In 2021, Wendy’s issued its annual challenge to each operator to sell at least 1,000 Boo! Books™ and 1,000 Frosty® Key Tags per restaurant. Through the challenge, the Wendy’s system and their generous customers raised nearly $13 million, including more than $7 million in Frosty Key Tags and a record $5.8 million in Boo! Books.

AKSAN United Fortune Enterprises
Erik Moosa, David See, Mark Gallegos & Steve Harris

Basec Management, Inc.*
Chris & Emily Lane

Classic Foods, Inc.*
Todd Ricks & Robert Pincock

Delight Restaurant Group
Rich & Andrew Krumholz

JBS Foods, Inc.*
Cathy & Chuck Etheridge

Pertoria, Inc.
Becky Williams

The Paradigm Group
Harvey Bennett & Larry Gannon

Thomas 5 Limited*
Wendy Thomas

Toot’n Totum Food Concepts, LLC
The Mitchell Family

Wend American Group

Wendpark, LLC / Wendrip, LLC
Ray & Kim Blackburn

Wendy’s of Bowling Green*
Mike O’Malley & John Hughes

Wen-Lake Corporation
Ken Daley

Wentana, LLC

Wenzak Companies
Mike Zak

WTC Ventures*

[ *Also recognized in 2020 ]

Thank you,
Delight Restaurant Group

Each of Delight Restaurant Group’s 129 Wendy’s locations sold, on average, 3,000 Boo! Books and 1,300 Frosty Key Tags per restaurant. Their tremendous efforts resulted in nearly $750,000 to benefit the Foundation’s mission.

Thank you,
Greater Cincinnati/Dayton Wendy’s Locations

Through a regional $1 Pin-Up campaign, Wendy’s franchise leaders and crews in 128 restaurants raised nearly $53,000 in support of our mission.

Thank you,
Bob and Mariann Hubbard

“The more we learn about the Foundation, the more we want to help and support them in their efforts. Every child should have a chance at a happy life, and the Foundation makes that happen.”

— Mariann Hubbard

An Evening
Under the Stars

Wendy’s franchisees in the New York area hosted the first annual New York Gala benefiting the Foundation’s mission, with 188 participants raising
more than $200,000 to benefit the Foundation.

Buona Vitas Charity
Golf Tournament

The Foundation was grateful to be named the beneficiary of the 11th annual Buona Vitas Charity Golf Tournament. Sponsored by Quint Graham and the Carolina Restaurant Group, the event raised more than $50,000.

U.S. Financial Overview

The Foundation earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, recognizing our commitment to good governance, financial transparency and other best practices and is proud to be a GuideStar Platinum participant. View the statement of financial position on pages 18–19 of the Annual Report.