Brian, Assistant VP of Corporate Communications at Rockefeller Group, and his wife never planned on having children. They had been together for more than 10 years and were content with their lives. They traveled and experienced new adventures together, but when they were given the opportunity to bec
Kelli, Associate Director of Strategy & Insights at VML, and her husband eagerly waited to complete their family through adoption for more than two years. Every day, they hoped to receive the call that would change their life. And in 2023, the phone finally rang. Within seven days of the initi
When Chelsea, a Sr. Director of Impact & Sustainability at Etsy, Inc., and her partner decided to become foster parents, they opened their hearts and home to children most in need. After receiving their foster care license, the couple was introduced to two young children who had lingered in the
Organizations across the country are raising the bar in making adoption and foster care a supported option for working parents. Just as every child deserves a safe, permanent home, we believe all parents deserve the support and time to bond with their child. Leaders of some of the organizations reco
Felicia, an executive in the Expansion Markets Division at Bank of America, started her adoption journey almost six years ago. She and her partner, Ruth, had contemplated adoption for several years but had never found the right time. Everything changed when they were introduced to three sisters who
Wayne, a Customer Care Agent at Hilton Grand Vacations, and his wife have been fostering for years, opening their homes and hearts to children who need it the most. In 2019, a 10-month-old baby boy entered their home, and the couple developed a special bond with him. The priority of the
Six years ago, Beth, an external communications professional at nVent, and her husband, Andrew, began to wonder what their future family life would look like. With family members who had been foster and adoptive parents, the couple was aware of the urgent need. When Beth and Andrew obtained their fo
In 2021, Julia, a Walmart Store Coach, lost her daughter in a car accident. Her daughter was a single mother to a 4-year-old boy, and Julia’s immediate thought was to care for him. Within 24 hours of hearing about the accident, Julia and her husband filed for emergency guardianship to care for their
Columbus, Ohio — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is excited to announce the 17th annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list of employers leading the way in providing adoption and foster care benefits and recognizing the need for this life-changing support. The 2023 list includes
More than 30 years ago, our founder, Dave Thomas, led an initiative advocating for adoption benefits in the workplace, because to him, it was just “the right thing to do.” The Foundation has carried that legacy forward through the Adoption-Friendly Workplace program and our annual Best Adoption-Frie
