Make a Biggie Difference For National Foster Care Month

This National Foster Care Month, Wendy’s^® continues its longstanding commitment to increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Today, there are nearly 400,000 children who live in foster homes in the U.S. and Canada, and Wendy’s is making it easier than ever to Make a Biggie™ Difference in finding children loving, forever homes.

Wendy’s Supports Foster Care Adoption 

We are proud of our franchisees, employees, and customers, who have made a difference in the lives of children in foster care through our annual fundraising campaigns. Wendy’s and its customers have raised more than $320 million to support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption^® in the shared focus of finding forever homes for thousands of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. 

In fact, in 2023 alone, we delivered record-breaking in-restaurant fundraising campaigns to support the Foundation. Through our 2023 Make a Biggie Difference ^TM, coin canister collection, Boo! Books, and Frosty Key Tags initiatives, we raised $22.6 million to benefit the Foundation, an 11% increase from 2022. 

Through this support, the Foundation has helped find forever families for more than 14,000 children in the United States and Canada. 

‘Make a Biggie™ Difference’ this May 

During National Foster Care Month, a simple scan can make a biggie difference. Wendy’s is inviting fans to ‘Make a Biggie Difference’ for children in foster care by simply scanning a specially marked ‘Make a Biggie Difference’ QR code* on select Wendy’s cold beverage cups May 1-31. With every scan, $5 will be donated from Wendy’s to the Foundation, up to $500,000.** The Coca-Cola® Company and Keurig Dr Pepper are proud to support Wendy’s and this initiative. Make an impact by placing an order at participating Wendy's restaurants nationwide today!     

On National Foster Care Day, May 7, Wendy’s will reduce delivery and service fees*** to $0 on all in-app delivery orders to make it as easy as possible to get cups in hand and scanned. All month long, customers can use the free any size Coca-Cola® or Dr Pepper® with purchase in-app offer**** when placing an in-app delivery, dine-in or carry-out order by logging in or creating a Wendy’s Rewards account in the Wendy’s app or on Wendys.com.*  

Serving Children Who Have Been in Foster Care the Longest 

Through programs like ‘Make a Biggie Difference,’ Wendy’s and our partners support the Foundation’s national awareness campaigns and life-changing programs, including Wendy’s Wonderful Kids^®. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids adoption professionals are dedicated to finding permanent families for children in foster care who are most often overlooked. They implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model to find the right family for every child and work with smaller caseloads of 12–15 children to ensure that each child receives the time, resources and support they deserve. 

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids at Work 

Donations from Wendy’s efforts like ‘Make a Biggie Difference’ supported the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and their Wendy’s Wonderful Kids team in finding a loving home for three siblings. For more than three years, Isaiah, Jordan and Sophia moved through the foster care system after enduring physical abuse and neglect as their biological parents struggled with substance addiction. Over the years, the children bounced from house to house, often separated from one another.  With the efforts of the Foundation, the siblings were reunited and adopted by Shane and Adrian and now are living happily together in their forever home.  

©2024 The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola” registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company. “Dr Pepper” registered trademark of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.  

*At participating U.S. Wendy’s. Not applicable in Hawaii.    

**For each QR code scan through 5/31/2024, Wendy’s will donate $5 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, up to a maximum of $500,000.00.     

*** Only at participating U.S. Wendy’s on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Zero Dollar Delivery Fee and Zero Service Fee applies to Wendy’s App delivery orders only. App download and account registration required. Tips and Taxes still apply. 

**** Offer valid for a limited time only at participating U.S. Wendy’s. Offer must be redeemed in the Wendy’s App or website. Account registration required.  See offer in Wendy's app or Wendys.com for further details.