When the burger business was considered all tapped out and the topic of adoption was spoken only in quiet corners when no one else was around, Dave Thomas had a refreshing take on both subjects that he would successfully share with the world. What was Dave Thomas' appeal? His Wendy's commercials showed a pretty ordinary man with a cherub face selling us good old fashion hamburgers. Behind this ordinary facade was a pretty extraordinary man who could quietly get his point across. Dave began as a great businessman with Colonel Sanders' KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) before launching his own eating place with his daughter's name called Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurant. Not long after stepping out on his own, his restaurant quickly spread into a familiar franchise, worthy of McDonalds to notice.

Did Dave have some personal touch that spoke to his loyal employees and the general public? Many think his honest approach to business and his personal affairs help him openly discuss his childhood experience with adoption. In time, many saw Dave as a self-appointed representative about this stigmatized matter. Former President Bush in 1990 saw Dave's impact on the public's perception of this issue and asked Dave to be the official spokesperson of a nationalized program, "Adoption Works For Everyone". Well, former President Bush's selection was the right one – nearly 150,000 foster children benefited from this incentive and were adopted. Dave felt he could do some more good by starting his own program called The Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption. The purpose of this program was simple - heighten awareness about adoption and formulate working adoption programs. The main idea of this foundation is to see "every child have a permanent home and a loving family". From this vision, the foundation concentrates on lifting the world's awareness about children in foster care and inspire those who care to adopt. Wendy's still remains focused on the Foundations' goals and aspirations.

Thomas took the hands-on approach to seeing his Foundation get off the ground during the starting phase. He went out to campaign to the public, federal legislation and corporate policies about issues concerning children in foster care and the pitfalls of the adoption system. Thomas' main objective was to see families with adopted children receive financial provisions, similar to the benefits that biological parents and their children can eligibly collect. His efforts were not in vein - in 1993, grants were given to Thomas' foundation and the American Council on Adoptive Children was also given a grant to pair 200 foster care children with parents seeking to adopt.

The inspiration that Dave Thomas started while he was living continues to benefit Wendy's and the Foundation's joint effort to help spur adoptions. Together, Wendy's and Dave's Foundation have raised around $20 million and watched local adoptions gain momentum. One of these generous donations is the result of the Foundation's sponsored programs about adoption on the Hallmark Channel. Thanks to these programs, Hallmark Cards felt inspired to design and market Christmas ornaments in the concern of motivating adoption. Another successful way that the Foundation has brought in donations is through its yearly Wendy's Three-Tour Golf Challenge. This fundraiser builds about $2 million annually.

The adoption cause and Wendy's Restaurant chain are permanently linked. Even at the local level, Wendy's workers and franchises dream up ways to market this drive through the restaurant. Not surprisingly, a not-for-profit incentive and the entrepreneurial way of life are mixtures that make great things happen.

Since Dave Thomas' passing on January 8, 2002 , he has been dubbed "The Patron Saint of Adoption" and his foundation fruitfully carries on his legacy.

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