Denny Lynch releases Dave Thomas tribute book with proceeds to adoption foundation

Former Wendy’s executive Denny Lynch has published Call Me Dave with Koehler Books, a memoir-style tribute to founder Dave Thomas. All author proceeds go to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, tying the book’s release to Thomas’s legacy in adoption advocacy.

Why it matters: - The book connects Wendy’s business story with Dave Thomas’s adoption advocacy, giving the release a philanthropic purpose. - All author proceeds will benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, directing sales to the nonprofit Thomas created. - The release adds a first-person account from a longtime Thomas confidant to the public record of Wendy’s history.

What happened: - Denny Lynch, the former senior vice president of communications for Wendy’s and a board member of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, has released his debut book with Koehler Books. - Call Me Dave is out now. - The book is a tribute to Dave Thomas, Wendy’s founder. - Lynch said Thomas left two legacies: Wendy’s restaurants worldwide and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. - For more information about events or the author, readers can visit dennylynchauthor.com.

The details: - The book follows Thomas’s path from a childhood marked by loneliness, neglect and abuse to his goal of owning a hamburger stand. - That goal grew into a chain with more than 6,000 restaurants worldwide. - Thomas became widely known through more than 800 television commercials. - Wendy Thomas, Dave Thomas’s daughter and the inspiration behind the Wendy’s logo, wrote the foreword. - The book includes never-before-shared stories from Lynch, who traveled with Thomas and remained one of his closest friends for decades. - The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. - The foundation raises awareness, supports families and advocates for changes in the adoption process. - Thomas was adopted and viewed support for children still in need of homes as a personal responsibility. - Lynch also helped shape the foundation’s mission for two decades as a founder and former chairman for the association.

Between the lines: - The release works as both a commercial book launch and a legacy project for Thomas’s family, former colleagues and the adoption charity tied to his name. - Lynch’s access to Thomas suggests the book is positioned as an insider account rather than a standard corporate biography. - The book’s charitable structure may help drive attention from both Wendy’s followers and adoption advocates.

What's next: - Lynch’s website will likely serve as the hub for author events and book promotion. - Sales of Call Me Dave will continue to generate proceeds for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. - The foundation remains positioned to benefit from the added visibility around Thomas’s story and Lynch’s release.