Frank looks like your average high school kid. He's a lanky six-foot tall sophomore who plays basketball, soccer and dreams of being a starting pitcher on the baseball team. But Frank has no family; he is one of thousands of kids in Arizona's Foster Care System living in a group home. Frank is in a desperate search for a family but the odds are not with him. After the age of ten, statistics show boys who are not yet adopted have a diminished chance of a permanent family placement.

Frank doesn't let his current state of affairs weigh on him too heavy. He has lots of friends who he trusts. "I watch out for their back and they watch mine," he said. He and his friends like to listen to rap, rock and R and B music and hang out together at the park playing and talking. At school, Frank has taken on the roll of a mediator. He helps the staff and teachers at recess and lunch when arguments or fights break out. "Being six-foot tall helps," he added. Frank is a good student who likes math, science and social studies.

Cooking is his great release. Frank says he got turned onto food by watching the Food Network; Rachel Ray and Emeril Lagasse are his TV mentors. Emeril's "let's kick it up a notch," is one of Frank's favorite expressions. Frank has already created some mouth watering recipes. His favorite is either his healthy meatloaf loaded with corn and vegetables or his three layer strawberry cake. "I make most of it from scratch," he bragged. "I make the dough and bake it in the pans with my very own strawberry and butter frosting on top." In fact, Frank is thinking he wants to be a pastry chef when he gets older. He is already exploring community college culinary arts programs. That might be delayed, he says, if he can land a job at Disneyland as one of their characters when he gets out of high school.

One thing Frank knows for sure, "I want a family real bad," he said with a pained look. "I'm tired of the group home and all the kids can get real annoying sometimes." Frank's case manager describes him as compassionate and affectionate. She says he enjoys giving and receiving hugs and is very helpful to others. Frank agrees. He says sharing and giving to others makes him feel happy and proud. He hopes to find a family who supports his love of cooking and would encourage him to pursue a culinary profession. His menu for the perfect family would include equal helpings of active, caring and nice. He hopes they would like to take trips and go to church. He says having younger siblings would be nice too. For dessert, they could all enjoy Frank's triple layer strawberry cake or maybe the peach cobbler he says he wants to perfect next.

For more information on Frank or to learn more about other children available for adoption through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, please contact Amanda Lennberg at alennberg@aask-az.org or 602-930-4472.