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When Dave Thomas passed away in January of 2002, Mike Jettinghoff and Kent Brown, of Wendy’s of Fort Wayne, wanted to do something to keep his memory alive. After all, Dave has spent many years, even starting his restaurant career in Fort Wayne and there is a special bond between the city and Dave. Dave frequently returned “home” to Fort Wayne and was honored as a prominent citizen on numerous occasions. The best way to keep Dave’s memory alive, Mike and Kent decided was to continue his work. An adopted child, Dave had devoted the last 12 years of his life to advancing the cause of adoption even founding the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. And so was born the Dave Thomas Memorial Classic of Fort Wayne. Now entering its sixth year, the classic had humble beginnings as a 1-day, 18-hole Florida scramble at Grey Goose golf club in Decatur, Indiana; in September of 2003. That first year raised a modest $13,000, but the seed had been planted. The event moved to Pine Valley Country Club in Fort Wayne in 2005 and was enlarged to a two-day event featuring a reception and live and silent auctions the first evening with golf the following morning. Pine Valley is again the site of this year’s event. Pine Valley Country Club features a beautifully manicured, 18-hole championship golf course as well as complete country club facilities including dining room, banquet facilities, swimming pools and tennis courts. In the first 5 years, over $152,000 has been raised, all proceeds being donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Foundation then forwards the money back to Northeast Indiana in a grant to “The Villages”, an Indiana based adoption agency. With the success of the event in recent years, the Villages has been able to initiate the “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids” program, the newest initiative of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The initial results of the program have been exceptionally encouraging exceeding all expectations. Many caring local people have given their time, resources and energy to help plan and stage this rapidly growing event; some have been a part of the program since the very beginning. This event would be impossible to stage without the efforts or Mary Campbell, Maria Wright, Steve Kennedy, all who have been involved since the first year. Others, like Mary Beth Bollinger, Kris Reese, Terry Hudson, David Goetz, Joe Cristofano, Melissa Stout, Beth Jettinghoff, Sally Lundin, Marie Russell, Craig Crook and Terry Hudson have joined the team in subsequent years and have greatly improved the event as well as the dollars raised.
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Want to bid on some of our Great LIVE auction items but can't attend? Interested in Being A Corporate Sponsor?
Auction items are updated on a regular basis! Be sure to check back often! Some of our current favorites: Caribbean Cruise! The LeAnn Rimes guitar
5 raffles including Champange Glass with diamond ($650 value) |
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