Dave Thomas Foundation:

Vision, Mission and Core Organizational Values

VISION: Every child will have a permanent home and a loving family.

MISSION: The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption will dramatically increase the number of adoptions of waiting children from North America's foster care systems.



CORE ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption exists to be an agent of change in the lives of children in North America waiting to be adopted out of foster care and in the attitudes of adults who, either unknowingly or helplessly, allow children to linger in government systems without the birthright of every child—a safe, loving and permanent family.

To do this most effectively, the staff of the Foundation is committed to internal excellence, ongoing personal and professional development, strategic thinking and planning, continuous operational assessment and improvement, results-oriented performance, collaborative actions and indefatigable effort on behalf of children.

We believe that all children, and particularly vulnerable and at-risk children, must be a priority across political, economic, cultural and business entities; that adults can disagree about approaches to this issue, but must be committed to reaching consensus; that this issue, which may appear overwhelmingly unsolvable, can be resolved when addressed in a strategic, deliberate and creative manner; and that the success of any individual in this endeavor is only as good as the impact on the team. We believe:

* Every child deserves to live in a safe, loving and permanent family.
* No child should linger in foster care or leave the system at age 18 without a permanent family of their own.
* Every child is adoptable.

Finally, we honor the memory of Dave Thomas in all of our efforts, respect the privilege of working with the Wendy’s system and understand that this dynamic partnership on behalf of children is both unique and powerful in providing the national voice for waiting children.