Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Recognizes the Country's 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption announced the eighth annual list of the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in the United States. The Wendy's Company (Dublin, OH) and Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Parsippany, NJ) topped the list, followed by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (Providence, RI), and HanesBrands (Winston-Salem, NC). The complete list may be viewed at adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org. 

The announcement of the 2014 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list comes at the beginning of National Adoption Month, a collective campaign to raise awareness of the children in foster care waiting to find permanent homes.

The list is comprised of companies big and small, representing all industries across the country. Companies recognized in the list include American Express (#25), Avon Products, Inc. (#23), Brooks Brothers Group, Inc. (#55), Cornell University (#71), Domino's Pizza LLC (#76), General Mills (#39), NBA (National Basketball Association) (#92), Nestle USA, Inc. (#79), Patagonia, Inc. (#83), and Zappos, Inc. (#79), among others.

"Each year, we recognize the top 100 companies who go the extra mile to provide adoption benefits in the workplace. We know that these benefits are not only cost effective and build employee loyalty, but most importantly, they provide critical support to families who adopt children in need of loving, stable homes," said Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Honored with the #1 spot on the list for the last 7 years, The Wendy's Company offers a combination of up to $25,300 in adoption assistance and up to six weeks of paid adoption leave.

"Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, was himself adopted, and his commitment to help children in foster care find forever families remains our signature cause," said Emil Brolick, President and CEO of The Wendy's Company.  "We're honored to be named the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace again this year, and proud to provide our employees with important benefits that support the building of families through adoption."

Since 2007, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has compiled the annual list of America's top 100 adoption-friendly employers to honor companies that offer the best adoption benefits in the country. The list is determined by an analysis of a company's adoption benefits, including the maximum amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt. Companies across the country, from a wide range of industries, submit applications for consideration. In addition to ranking the top 100 overall, the Foundation also ranks companies by size in individual industry lists.

Employers who applied for inclusion on this year's list offer an average of $7,500 in financial adoption assistance and 4.5 weeks of paid leave. Financial reimbursement varies from $5,000 to $25,300, and 1 to 18 weeks of paid leave. Unpaid leave for adoption, beyond what is required by the Family and Medical Leave Act,ranges from one week to two years. These are the highest averages since the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption began their adoption benefits survey.  

Many employers go beyond benefits to support the cause of adoption. Some encourage adoption, educate potential adoptive parents, offer support and networks to employees who adopt, and incorporate adoption into services provided by their employee assistance program. Others include adoption nonprofits in their payroll deduction programs, or participate in cause-related marketing programs.

There are more than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system waiting to get adopted. Every year, more than 23,000 children in foster care turn 18 and age out of the system without families. The 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List helps increase foster care adoption awareness while recognizing businesses that support families who choose to build their family through adoption.

If your organization does not offer adoption benefits and is interested in doing so, visit adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org for a free toolkit and competitive benchmarks.

About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption:

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 130,000 children waiting to be adopted in foster care systems in the United States and Canada . Created by Wendy's® founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and advocacy initiatives. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

For additional information:

Carrie Boerio, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
[email protected]
(614) 764-6740

Jill Crumbacher, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
[email protected]
(614) 764-8406

Haley Dorgan, Sunshine Sachs – Media Inquiries
[email protected]
(212) 691-2800

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141110/157579

SOURCE Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Related Links

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org