During Father’s Day Weekend, Wendy’s will donate 50¢ from every Frosty product sold to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA), a national, non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of foster children in North America. Also customers can stop by Wendy’s and donate to the cause by purchasing a Frosty pin-up for $1 each.

“The Wendy’s system is very proud to be involved with this special event that supports the cause that our founder, Dave Thomas, was most passionate about – finding a permanent and loving home for every child in the foster care system,” said Wendy’s President David Karam, who serves on the board of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

“This is our third year for Father’s Day Frosty Weekend and we’ve set our fundraising goal at $1.7 million! We hope families will find this an enjoyable way to celebrate Father’s Day while making a difference in the lives of foster children.”

After raising more than $1 million in 2007 and over $1.5 million in 2008 during Father’s Day Frosty Weekend, Wendy’s remains committed to supporting the cause of foster care adoption in the U.S.

The money raised during the weekend will support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and its signature program: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK). This program is filling a critical need by funding full-time adoption professionals at local agencies in all 50 states to match parents with waiting foster care children.

The success of WWK is due to the ongoing partnership between the DTFA, the Wendy’s system of 6,600 company and franchise operated restaurants and local adoption partners. The Foundation grants funds to qualified adoption organizations, and holds the agencies accountable for achieving agreed-upon results. The Wendy’s system raises more than $7 million annually to fund the local WWK programs.

“We’re very proud of how far the program has come in such a short time. But even with all that’s been achieved, there are still thousands of children in foster care still waiting to be adopted.” said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

“We believe Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is the solution, and that the program will become even stronger with the support of Wendy’s customers during Father’s Day Weekend.”

Join Wendy’s in supporting foster care adoption – stop by Wendy’s during Father’s Day Frosty Weekend, June 20-21, for a special treat

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children in North America’s foster care systems ready to be adopted. Created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who was adopted as a child, the Foundation leads programs such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which puts adoption recruiters in all 50 states and Canada to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system, and Adoption-Friendly Workplace, which encourages employers to offer adoption benefits to their employees. The Foundation also works with adoption advocates and officials to streamline the adoption process and make adoption more affordable for families. As the only Foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, it is driven by its founder’s simple value: Do what’s best for the child. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit www.DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption.org.

Thank you to the many folks across the nation for buying a frosty and helping children who wait for adoption. Last year’s efforts raised more than $1.5 million!

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Create and send a free fathers days e-card, or choose a celebrity created one through their site Frosty Card and Wendy’s will donate 25 cents to
The Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption.

Father’s day is this Sunday so stop by their site and send a card today!

Reposted at the Forever Parents Adoption Forums.

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Families will have the opportunity to think consciously about their roles in both the Jewish community and the adoption community while enjoying a weekend at one of the largest Jewish summer camps in North America. Since 1960, the Center for Jewish Family Life at the NJ Y Camps has provided top-rated programs for people looking for family fun and the chance to meet new people.

Parents will have the option to participate in workshops such as Children’s Books and Stories of Adoption, Identity Issues for Adoptees Approaching Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Acceptance of Transracial Families in the Jewish Community, while their children participate in age-appropriate activities such as “W.I.S.E. Up workshops” or “Teen Adoptees Advocating for Adoption.” Adoption-specific workshops will be facilitated by Adoption Connection Director Steve Baranowski and Program Coordinator Debbie Schwartz, along with other adoption professionals who will share their experiences as Jewish parents by adoption, including Lisa Schuman, LCSW, director of Adoption Cooperative Consultants and staff psychotherapist for Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, Marcia Hochman, MSW, Jewish Program Coordinator at Ametz Adoption Program, Jewish Child Care Association of New York, and Ellen Singer, LCSW-C, Adoption Program Specialist at The Center for Adoption Support & Education, Inc., in Burtonsville, Maryland. Rabbi Lina Zerbarini, Director of Operations at the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale, will also be participating in the weekend program.

NJ Y Camps, which has been running Jewish summer camps in Pennsylvania for more than 80 years, will provide space and programming support. Participants will be able to take full advantage of the NJY facilities, including the high and low ropes adventure courses, boating, swimming, arts and crafts, athletics, and much more. Forever Families Weekend will take place at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah in Milford, Pennsylvania.

For more information about this program, or to receive Forever Families literature, please contact Debbie Schwartz at (203) 622-1881 or dschwartz@jfsgreenwich.org. The camp webpage is located at forever families.

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Celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, more than 300 events are held each year throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt. In total, more than 20,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day. This year, National Adoption Day will be Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Goals of National Adoption Day 2008
• Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
• Celebrate and honor all families who adopt
• Raise awareness about the 129,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption
• Encourage others to adopt children from foster care
• Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts, and advocacy organizations
• Communicate availability and need for post-adoptive services

History of National Adoption Day
In just eight years, National Adoption Day has truly grown from nine events in its first year to more than 300 events in 2007, with 4,300 adoptions finalized in 2007 as part of more than 300 events in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

National Adoption Day Sponsors
A coalition of national partners – The Alliance for Children’s Rights, Casey Family Services, Children’s Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Freddie Mac Foundation – sponsor National Adoption Day to draw special attention to foster children waiting for permanent families and to celebrate all loving families that adopt.

National Adoption Day Coalition Partners
The Alliance for Children’s Rights – The Alliance for Children’s Rights is Los Angeles’ only free legal
services organization devoted solely to helping children living in poverty and foster care. The Alliance’s mission is to ensure children get the support and services they need to become healthy, productive adults. Since 1992, The Alliance has worked together with the Los Angeles Juvenile Court and the Department of Children and Family Services to expedite and increase the number of children adopted from Los Angeles foster care.

Casey Family Services – Casey Family Services is the direct service agency of the Annie E. Casey
Foundation, the nation’s largest private foundation serving fragile U.S. children, families and communities, started by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey. Casey Family Services has worked with foster and adoptive families for nearly 30 years and is dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children here in the United States.

Children’s Action Network – Formed in 1990 by leaders in the entertainment industry, the Children’s
Action Network (CAN) is dedicated to improving the lives of America’s children. Through extensive public education campaigns, community-based programs and policy initiatives, CAN uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children’s issues and make them a top priority in everyday life.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute – The Congressional Coalition on Adoption
Institute (CCAI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about children in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic need of a family. CCAI serves as an informational and educational resource to policymakers as they seek to draft positive adoption legislation and to focusing public attention on the advantages of adoption.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a leading
partner of National Adoption Day, a collaborative national effort to raise awareness of the 129,000
children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families and to celebrate all families who adopt. By drawing attention to the joy of thousands of children who have finally found their “forever families,” the Foundation and its partners hope to encourage even more families to consider adopting a child out of foster care.

Freddie Mac Foundation – Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to making home a place where children and families thrive. As the largest corporate funder in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested more
than $348 million in organizations serving the community.

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Donald J. is a 10-year-old boy who loves cats, dogs, semi-trucks, going to church and watching Sponge Bob Square Pants on TV. He’s much like other boys his age, except for one thing: Donald dreams of having a family. “Someone to love me and I get to stay there forever,” he told the Missouri Department of Social Services. Just looking at his sweet face with those puppy dog brown eyes — well, it’s enough to break your heart.

That’s kind of the idea behind the Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery tour that will be coming to the Buchanan County Courthouse in St. Joseph July 21 and 22. Sponsored by the Adoption Exchange and the children’s division of the DSS, they hope to find homes for the 238 children depicted in the 185 photos on the tour. The tour will travel to 16 cities across the state to be on display in 22 venues.

“This is the third year,” says Sara Anderson, DSS spokesperson. “In the first two years, we had more than 100 kids who were placed with potential adoptive families. It’s something that’s working.”

And something that’s needed, considering there are 1,800 children needing homes in Missouri. Many of the children featured in the gallery were selected because they are harder to place, Ms. Anderson says. It’s usually because they are older or have siblings, like Emily Mathis. She was adopted when she was 11 years old, along with her brother, Billy, after being in foster care for two years. Emily was not sure she would ever have parents. “Nobody wanted to take on a kid that was older,” Emily says. “I’m not good enough for a family … you think that a lot.”

Foster parents took care of her physical needs, she says, but not the emotional ones. It’s different now with her adopted parents. They tell her every day how they love her, and she knows they will always be there for her. “It’s really helped me change my life,” she says.

One of the keys to the success of the Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery has been the quality of the photos. They were taken and donated by professional photographers across the state. “The thing about these pictures is that they are not just kids sitting there,” Ms. Anderson says. “These photographers are able to capture the spirit of these kids and that’s what is speaking to people.”

So you’ll see the sparkling eyes and bright smile of 10-year-old Angela S. and learn how she loves to sing, dance and ride her bike; or the freckles on 8-year-old John P. and read how he enjoys fishing, camping and playing with Lincoln Logs. Then, if the photos tug at your heart strongly enough, you may consider what it would be like to love one of these children as your own.
For more information, visit Heart Gallery

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My daughters (who we adopted through foster care) took my husband to Wendy’s for a Fathers Day frosty last year and they intend to take him again this year. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is such a great organization and is one that everyone in the adoption community should support!

TREAT DAD TO A FATHER’S DAY FROSTY AND HELP CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

DUBLIN, OHIO (May 27, 2008) – Forgo the colorful Father’s Day tie, treat dad to Frosty and help a wonderful group of children in the process.

That’s what Wendy’s second annual Father’s Day Frosty Weekend is all about – giving people another way to support the cause of foster care adoption and help the more than 129,000 U.S. children who are waiting for the love of forever families.

During Father’s Day Weekend, June 14 and 15, Wendy’s will donate 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty product, including new Frosty Shakes, at participating restaurants, to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The goal is to raise more than $1.3 million to support the work of the non-profit Foundation and its signature program: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK). This program is filling a critical need by funding and supporting full-time adoption recruiters at local agencies throughout the U.S., the District of Columbia and Canada to march parents with waiting foster care children.

Since 2004, WWK has grown from seven adoption recruiters to 109 across the U.S. and two provinces in Canada.

“The Wendy’s system is very proud to be involved with this special event that helps support our Founder’s most passionate cause – finding a permanent and loving home for every child,” said Wendy’s Chief Executive Officer and President Kerrii Anderson, who serves on the board of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

“Our first year was a resounding success and raised $1 million for the Foundation. We’ve set our 2008 goal at $1.3 million, and we hope families will find this an enjoyable way to celebrate Father’s Day while making a difference in the lives of others.”

To date, 3,500 children in foster care have been served by the growing WWK program. Of these children, more than half have been matched with prospective parents. Most important, 524 children have had their adoptions finalized and now are experiencing the joys of having adoptive families.

The success of WWK is due to the ongoing partnership between the Foundation, the Wendy’s system of 6,500 Company and franchise operated restaurants and local adoption partners. The Foundation grants funds to qualified adoption organizations, and holds the agencies accountable for achieving agreed-upon results. The Wendy’s system raises funds to pay the costs of the local WWK programs.

“We’re very proud of how far the program has come in such a short time. But even with all that’s been achieved, there are still thousands of children in foster care still waiting to be adopted. The average age of a waiting child in the U.S. is nearly nine years old, and they spend an average of five years in the foster care system. Imagine telling a young child they must wait five years to find a permanent family,” said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

“We believe Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is the solution, and that the program will become even stronger with the support of Wendy’s customers during Father’s Day weekend.”

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children in North America’s foster care systems ready to be adopted. Created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who was adopted as a child, the Foundation leads programs such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which puts adoption recruiters in all 50 states and Canada to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system, and Adoption-Friendly Workplace, which encourages employers to offer adoption benefits to their employees. The Foundation also works with adoption advocates and officials to streamline the adoption process and make adoption more affordable for families. As the only Foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, it is driven by its founder’s simple value: Do what’s best for the child. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

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An annual KAMP and retreat that takes place each year in Cedar Falls, IA, for both children ages 5-18 and their families to attend. KAMP is a culture camp for adoptive families with Korean children 5-18. Recognizing that adoption is a family issue, KAMP seeks to provide an educational and social experience not only for Korean adoptees, but also for their parents and siblings. Offers individual activities for both parents and the children as well as family activities through the event.

International Retreat is an annual weekend event offering educational activities for families who have adopted interculturally. IR’s purpose is to provide opportunities to learn, share, and socialize with other intercultural families not just those adopting from Korea.

2008 KAMP is August 6 – 8
2008 International Retreat is August 8 – 10
The KAMP runs from a Wednesday through Friday and then the Retreat overlaps from Friday through Sunday. Most families attend both events.

Email: kamp@iiakampretreat.com

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Thinking About Open Adoption?

“Just adopt.” you’ve heard, as if it’s no big deal.

But it is. It’s common for couples looking into domestic infant adoption to feel daunted by the options and the mazes sprawled before them. Once you get some clarity, the path to parenthood becomes much more doable. Come find out more about open adoption, where we’ll look at:

* 20 questions to ask before you select an agency
* the steps you must take to ensure an ethical adoption (and why this is your concern)
* what exactly IS open adoption
* secrets of a successful open adoption how to minimize the pitfalls that can come up in the adoption process

We’re offering our first class on Wednesday, May 28 from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Central Denver area. The class will be repeated on Saturday morning, August 2 from 9-11 near Lowry, as well as on Saturday morning, October 1.

Register here

sidenote: If you have information on local adoption courses, conferences, programs etc, use the comment button to send it in and I’ll gladly post it here.

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…and my children were part of it. My daughters, adopted through foster care, took their dad to Wendy’s on Fathers Day for a Frosty to support this wonderful cause. I think Dave Thomas would be proud.

DUBLIN, OHIO (June 20, 2007) – A helping hand – that’s what Wendy’s® customers provided to children awaiting adoption when they reached out last weekend for a Frosty™.

Wendy’s and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® announced today that the first Father’s Day Frosty Weekend met it’s fund-raising goal and generated at least $1 million to support the cause of foster care adoption.

Wendy’s is donating 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty product sold in participating U.S. restaurants June 16 and 17. Canadian Wendy’s restaurants are contributing $1.

It will be several weeks before a final tally is known from the entire Wendy’s system; but, based on average Frosty sales at Company-owned restaurants during the weekend, the total will exceed $1 million.

“We’re delighted with the positive response from our customers and the many communities we call home. It was a simple, easy way all of us in the Wendy’s family could help the more than 150,000 children in North America who are waiting for permanent, loving families of their own,” said Wendy’s Chief Executive Officer and President Kerrii Anderson, who serves on the board of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The money will be used to support the Foundation and its signature program: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK). This program is filling a critical gap by funding and supporting full-time adoption recruiters at local agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to match prospective parents with waiting foster care children.

In three years, WWK has grown from seven pilot cities in April 2004, to 88 cities across North America with 106 adoption recruiters. The success of WWK is due to the ongoing partnership between the Foundation, the Wendy’s system and local adoption partners. The Foundation grants funds to qualified adoption organizations, and holds the agencies accountable for achieving agreed-upon results. The Wendy’s system raises funds to pay the costs of the local WWK programs.

Currently, children who are eligible for adoption spend an average of five years in the U.S. foster care system waiting for adoption. The average age of these children is nine years old, and many never find permanent homes.

“We believe Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is providing a vital and realistic solution. Through the support of the Wendy’s system and the generosity of people throughout North America during Father’s Day weekend, more children will be helped and more lives changed forever,” said Rita Soronen, executive director, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. “We are deeply and profoundly grateful.”

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America’s foster care systems ready to be adopted. Created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who was adopted as a child, the Foundation leads programs such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which puts adoption recruiters in all 50 states and Canada to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system, and Adoption-Friendly Workplace, which encourages employers to offer adoption benefits to their employees. The Foundation also works with adoption advocates and officials to streamline the adoption process and make adoption more affordable for families. As the only Foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, we are driven by Dave’s simple value: Do what’s best for the child. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit www.DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption.org.

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Dear Joanne,

I’m writing to let you know about an exciting event happening this week. Award-winning author Mardie Caldwell is scheduled to appear live on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’ on May 9.

Caldwell will be discussing adoption as part of a feature this week about different ways to build your family. She will be sharing some important upcoming changes to various adoption opportunities.

Check your local listings for exact times and be sure to set your TiVo so you won’t miss this information!

Warmly,
The Staff @ American Carriage House Publishing

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