Wendy’s restaurants raising funds, awareness about adoption

        Through July 31, area Wendy’s restaurants invite patrons to “have a ball” and support local family adoptions.
        Through the end of the month, customers can visit any of the six participating Wendy’s, including Oregon, Perrysburg, Rossford, Bowling Green and Fostoria, purchase a paper beach ball, sign their name on it and have it displayed in the restaurant to show their support of adoption.
        Beach balls cost $1, and all proceeds will go to Adopt America Network, located in Toledo. The nonprofit organization is committed to improving the lives of adoptable children throughout the United States who are in the foster care system by placing them with permanent, loving families.
        Statistics show there are 515,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and 155,000 waiting to be adopted.
        Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, was adopted as a child. He was an advocate for children in foster care and was committed to raising awareness of children who are waiting for permanent homes and loving families in North America.
        He founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a nonprofit public charity dedicated to increasing adoptions of children in North America’s foster care system. The foundation works in collaboration locally with the Adopt America Network to increase the number of adoptions in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
        “Our Wendy’s restaurants have always been proud to support Adopt America Network since adoption was Dave Thomas’ favorite charitable cause,” said franchise owner Becky Williams “Every year we raise money to help defray the cost to a family wanting to adopt a child. By selling the beach balls we are able to involve the community.”
        For more information about the Adopt America Network, visit adoptamericanetwork.org.