Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Julianne Nichols has a strong background in marketing and communications with experience in various organizations. Julianne started their career as an Account Executive at Paul Werth Associates in 1998 and then moved on to become a Regional Marketing Coordinator at Squire Sanders in 2000. In 2002, they joined Griffin Communications as a Senior Account Executive and later became an Assistant Vice President, Client Services. In 2005, they transitioned to Battelle for Kids where they held multiple roles including Marketing Coordinator, Marketing Director, Senior Director, and finally, Managing Director of Marketing and Communications. Julianne led a team of specialists and designers in providing support to school systems in strategic planning, branding, messaging, and integrated communications. In 2018, they joined the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, where they develop and implements strategies to raise awareness and support for finding permanent homes for children in foster care.
Julianne Nichols completed their Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism with a focus on Public Relations at Ohio University. Julianne then pursued their Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing at Capital University from 2000 to 2002.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs and builds awareness around the growing need and importance of foster care adoption in various ways. We also develop resources for employers and families to support the adoption journey. Through our signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, the Foundation provides grants to adoption agencies to hire and train recruiters in our child-focused recruitment model to find loving, permanent homes for children in foster care. This model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including older youth, siblings and children with special needs. The Foundation offers a free library of resources to help families navigate the adoption journey, such as Finding Forever Families: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adoption and Strengthen Your Forever Family: A Step-by-Step Guide to Post-Adoption. The Foundation also works to build awareness around the growing need and importance of adoption from foster care through public service announcements, social media campaigns, articles, events, sponsorships and more.