Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program helps find permanent homes for 10,000 foster children

Ky.- The Dave Thomas Foundation’s program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, has reached the milestone of placing 10,000 foster care children in adoptive homes throughout the United States. 

Since 2004, the program has been working to find children their forever family. In 2017, they began efforts in Kentucky. Today, they have 60 recruiters working in Kentucky to connect children and families. 

In Kentucky alone, they have helped 622 children become adopted over the last four years. 

Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation said it’s more important than ever to bring awareness to foster care and adoptions during the pandemic. She said they’re not stopping at just 10,000 adoptions. 

“Ten thousand  is great and we’re going to celebrate that for today. But tomorrow we know that 122,000 children are still waiting in foster care across this country. And so we’ve got to do a much better job. The reality is, like Kentucky, we’re accelerating that pace by growing the program in states. So I think 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, are right in view and at a much quicker pace than it took to get to the 10,000,” said Soronen. 

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program aims to find forever families for the hardest-to-place youth in foster care- teenagers, children with special needs, and siblings.