It’s often the little things that matter most. A loving hug from a parent, laughter with a sibling or a meal shared with family that build a life. Sadly, these special moments are more elusive for children waiting to be adopted from foster care. Wendy’s is here to make those special moments a reality, and you can help.
Every donation, of any size, can make a lifetime of impact.
When you visit Wendy's, you are supporting our signature cause, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®.
When you visit Wendy’s, we’re able to help the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption find permanent, loving homes for more children in foster care. Whether you purchase Boo! Books™ or a Frosty® Key Tag, or simply drop your change in the coin canister or donate through our app, you are helping to change the journey for children in foster care who need our help the most.
The real champions of our adoption support program are the specialized adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who implement the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program. These amazing individuals work with smaller caseloads of children in foster care, ensuring they have enough time and resources to find the right home for every child. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters use a child-focused recruitment model, and it works! Children served by the program are up to 3x more likely to be adopted.
The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program serves children and youth who have been in foster care the longest. This includes teenagers, children with special needs and siblings who are often overlooked. Nearly 90% of the children served are over the age of 14 and have spent more than three years in foster care. These are kids who we know could age out of foster care without a family if we don’t help them.
Each year, more than 20,000 teens leave foster care without a family, leaving them at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness, unemployment and other negative outcomes. Funds raised through Wendy’s in-restaurant campaigns are critical to ensure there are enough Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters to find safe, permanent and loving homes for young people in foster care who are too often overlooked.
With your help, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has found forever families for more than 14,000 children and counting. But we’re not finished until every child waiting in foster care has a permanent, loving home. That’s what Dave would want. Thank you for your support!
When you visit Wendy’s, we’re able to help the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption find permanent, loving homes for more children in foster care. Whether you purchase Boo! Books™ or a Frosty® Key Tag, or simply drop your change in the coin canister or donate through our app, you are helping to change the journey for children in foster care who need our help the most.
The real champions of our adoption support program are the specialized adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who implement the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program. These amazing individuals work with smaller caseloads of children in foster care, ensuring they have enough time and resources to find the right home for every child. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters use a child-focused recruitment model, and it works! Children served by the program are up to 3x more likely to be adopted.
The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program serves children and youth who have been in foster care the longest. This includes teenagers, children with special needs and siblings who are often overlooked. Nearly 90% of the children served are over the age of 14 and have spent more than three years in foster care. These are kids who we know could age out of foster care without a family if we don’t help them.
Each year, more than 20,000 teens leave foster care without a family, leaving them at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness, unemployment and other negative outcomes. Funds raised through Wendy’s in-restaurant campaigns are critical to ensure there are enough Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters to find safe, permanent and loving homes for young people in foster care who are too often overlooked.
With your help, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has found forever families for more than 14,000 children and counting. But we’re not finished until every child waiting in foster care has a permanent, loving home. That’s what Dave would want. Thank you for your support!
With every QR code scan of Wendy’s cold beverage cups in May, Wendy's will donate $5 to the Foundation up to $500,000 to further its mission of dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in foster care.
Wendy's offers adoption benefits to its employees, including paid time off, bonding leave and financial assistance for each adopted child. And, we're not alone! Hundreds of companies are “adopting” adoption benefits because all parents deserve support and time to bond with their children. Adoption-friendly policies create loyal and happy employees.
Dave Thomas was adopted when he was just six weeks old. In 1992, he established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Foundation is Wendy's charity of choice and foster care adoption is our signature cause.
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters serve youth in foster care who are often overlooked. They don’t stop until they find each child the right home…because every child deserves the love and comfort of a family they know will always be there.
How can I scan the cup?
Using a smartphone with a QR reader, customers scan the specially marked Make a Biggie™ Difference QR code on promotional cold beverage cups anytime between May 1-31 while supplies last. With every scan, Wendy’s® will donate $5 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® (DTFA), up to $500,000.
What if my restaurant does not have promotional cups?
The Make a Biggie™ Difference promotional cups are available at participating Wendy’s while supplies last. The cups are not available in Hawaii. Customers who do not receive a cold beverage cup during their visit can learn more about the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption by visiting its website.
Can I scan more than one cup during the month of May? Can several people scan the same cup?
Yes, anyone can scan the cup at any time during the month of May. Scans will equal a $5 donation until a maximum of $500,000 is donated. The intent of the program is to use a national stage and National Foster Care Month to highlight the Foundation’s mission to dramatically increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems.
Do I need to enter my email address or phone number to participate?
No, all a customer must do to unlock the $5 donation is scan their Wendy’s cold beverage cup that shows the Make a Biggie™ Difference message. Additional donations to support foster care adoption can be made directly to the DTFA. More information is available about the Foundation, at davethomasfoundation.org.
Can I get my drink for free?
Yes, during May, Wendy’s Rewards™ members may use the Free Any Size Soft Drink with purchase offer to buy their favorite Coca-Cola® or Dr Pepper® beverage at Wendy’s.
What is Happening on Tuesday, May 7?
On National Foster Care Day, Wendy’s is waiving all delivery and service fees for Wendy’s Delivery orders so it’s as easy as possible to get the cup in hand and scanned. Orders for delivery can be placed in the Wendy’s app or on wendys.com. Taxes and tips still apply. App download and account registration is required.
Is there any fine print I should know about?
Here are the legal terms:
- Promotional Cold Cups are available at participating U.S. Wendy’s.
- Promotional Cold Cups are not available in Hawaii.
- For each QR code scan through 5/31/2024, Wendy’s will donate $5 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, up to a maximum of $500,000.00.
- On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Zero Dollar Delivery Fee and Zero Service Fee applies to Wendy’s App delivery orders only. App download and account registration required. Only at participating U.S. Wendy’s. Tip and Taxes still apply.
- Free Any Size Soft Drink with Purchase offer is valid for a limited time only at participating U.S. Wendy’s. Offer must be redeemed in the Wendy’s App or website. Account registration required. See offer in Wendy's app or Wendys.com for further details.
“Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company. DR PEPPER is a registered trademark of Dr Pepper/Seven, Up. Inc.