Foundation committed to finding permanent homes for the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems.
Columbus, Ohio — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national non-profit public charity, today welcomed Tamika Williams as a member of its board of trustees, serving a three-year term.
Williams is the Associate Director, Child & Family Well-Being at The Duke Endowment. The Duke Endowment’s work in North Carolina and South Carolina focuses on child and family well-being, health care, higher education and rural churches. Before joining The Duke Endowment, Williams was a master’s level social worker in child welfare for 13 years.
“From my earliest days of working in child welfare, I have been involved in the adoption of children from foster care,” said Williams. “Adoption means so much to families and children, and it is dear to my heart. I have witnessed and know the absolute necessity of child-specific recruitment to getting ALL children home.”
“Tamika has deep professional experience, both in the areas of child welfare and in working at a large foundation,” said Joe Turner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Sun Management and chair of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s board of trustees. “I am excited to collaborate with her on behalf of the Foundation’s mission.”
Through its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®, the Foundation provides funding and establishes innovative co-investment partnerships with states to support the hiring of adoption recruiters who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. This model has been proven to be up to three times more effective at finding forever homes for children who have been lingering in foster care the longest.
“Tamika has worked directly with the youth we serve and shares our belief that every child, no matter their age or circumstances, deserves a permanent, loving home,” said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “Her first-hand knowledge of the child welfare landscape will be invaluable as we continue expanding the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program in North Carolina and across the United States.”
Williams also serves on the board of Arrow Child and Family Ministries located in Spring, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill.
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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org.
