Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Names America's 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

DUBLIN, Ohio, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption today announced the fourth annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list recognizing organizations nationwide for their adoption benefits. The Wendy's/Arby's Group earned the top spot by offering a maximum of $24,300 in financial assistance and up to six weeks paid leave.

"This is one of the highest honors our company can receive.  Dave Thomas was passionate for the cause of adoption, and he personally contacted thousands of companies asking them to extend adoption benefits to employees.  We're extremely proud to follow his lead and help our employees realize the joys of adoption," said David Karam, President of Wendy's International.

Teressa Johnson has worked for Wendy's for 21 years. She and her husband have adopted three children: one as an infant and two siblings from foster care. "We knew adoption was our way of building our family. Wendy's helped us through the whole process. For our foster care adoption, Wendy's covered the minimal expense. We didn't pay anything. It's such a benefit to have help and support from your employer."

Rankings for the Best Adoption Friendly Workplaces List are determined by an analysis of a company's adoption benefits available to employees who adopt, such as financial reimbursement and paid leave. The Foundation compiled the results from survey data collected from nearly 500 U.S. employers and partnered with Employee Benefit News, a SourceMedia publication that is the leading source of information for benefits decision makers, to announce the winners.  

The average financial reimbursement for all Foundation survey participants is $5,500 and the average paid leave offering is five weeks. More than 40 percent also offer unpaid leave beyond that required by the Family Leave and Medical Act, ranging from one week to three years.  

Today, more than 114,000 children are available for adoption in U.S. foster care. Most will spend nearly four years in the system before they are adopted. The release of the fourth annual Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List helps the Foundation increase foster care adoption awareness while celebrating those businesses that support adoptive families.

"Whether the child is a 12-year-old victim of child abuse and neglect who has spent years in U.S. foster care, a toddler who has been living in a foreign orphanage, or a newborn from a domestic adoption, it is critical for every child to have the opportunity to adjust and thrive in their adoptive home," said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Foundation. "This is why employer support of adoption and family-friendly work environments are so crucial."

In addition to ranking the top 100, the Foundation also recognized the top ten by size and the leaders of each industry. To view all of the honorees, visit www.DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption.org.

About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America's foster care systems. Created by Wendy's® founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements results-driven national signature programs, foster care adoption awareness initiatives and research-based advocacy efforts. To learn more, visit www.DaveThomasFoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

SOURCE The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption