Dave Thomas

Dublin, Ohio
United States

Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy's hamburger chain, is the nation's leading advocate for adoption. As an adopted child himself, Thomas knows only too well what adoption is all about. In 1990 Thomas accepted President Bush' invitation to serve as national spokesperson for the Presidential Initiative on Adoption. Called "Adoption Works...for Everyone," the project was designed to encourage the adoption of nearly 100,000 special-needs children. Thomas also chose to commit his restaurant chain to that effort by introducing adoption benefits to Wendy's standard employee benefits package. The policy provides financial assistance and paid leave for company employees who choose to adopt. He has also mounted a national campaign to urge fellow CEOs to do the same. Thomas has appeared in 300 commercials promoting adoption, and he grants hundreds of interviews each year to raise awareness about the thousands of children awaiting adoption. He has also donated the proceeds from his two best-selling books to help fund adoption programs. Recently, Thomas created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is dedicated to the tenet that every child deserves a permanent home and a loving family. Thomas is significantly involved in a number of other charitable causes, among them the Children's Home Society, Recreation Unlimited, and Charity Newsies. He has also endowed an educational center at Duke University and a cancer research center in Columbus. As a child, Thomas dreamed of creating a better burger. His dream today is to ensure that every child grows up in a permanent, loving home.