[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING LIFE OF DAVE THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, as a member who has actively sought to advance 
the adoption and foster care system, I would like to pay tribute to 
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers. Throughout 
his life, Mr. Thomas displayed incredible dedication to not only his 
business endeavors, but also his advocacy for the cause of adoption.
  In his efforts to encourage, improve, and increase public awareness 
of adoption and foster care programs, Mr. Thomas established both the 
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Dave Thomas Center for 
Adoption Law. His Foundation for Adoption worked jointly with national 
adoption organizations, individuals, and public and private agencies to 
raise awareness and provide support for children awaiting adoption, 
while his Center for Adoption Law helped to ease and facilitate the 
adoption process through education, advocacy, and research.
  In addition to his foundations, Mr. Thomas was a constructive force 
in shaping corporate health policy to cover adoption expenses. Through 
his efforts, 75 percent of Fortune 1000 companies now offer adoption 
benefits to their employees. Mr. Thomas also served from 1990 until 
2000 as the national spokesman for numerous White House adoption and 
foster care initiatives, and donated his speaking fees and profits from 
the sales of his books, ``Dave's Way, Well Done!'' and ``Franchising 
for Dummies,'' to adoption causes.
  As a testament to his devotion to the cause of adoption, Mr. Thomas 
received numerous awards, including the Angel in Adoption Award from 
the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and the 2001 Social Awareness 
Award from the U.S. Postal Service.
  Through his entire span of advocacy for the cause of adoption, Mr. 
Thomas maintained his life and success ethics of honesty, hard work, 
self-reliance, and perseverance. May he always be remembered as a truly 
powerful example for every person who works toward a cause in which he 
or she believes.

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