news release

Any cancer diagnosis is terrifying, but imagine the added horror of having to endure the battle of cancer without the support of friends? That’s the premise behind Friends After Diagnosis, a nonprofit organization created and run by individuals in Indian River County who understand what a breast cancer diagnosis means, what patients are experiencing, and how best to help. The mission of Friends After Diagnosis is to enhance the lives of women diagnosed with cancers, others with breast cancer, and their loved ones through regular support meetings, education, wellness, programming, celebration, and networking. The aim is to ensure that no one goes through the cancer battle alone and to help fill the lives of those affected by cancer with wisdom, wellness, fellowship, and peace.

To help ensure that Friends After Diagnosis achieves its goal and to help support the 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration of Women in the Arts, the Dyer Difference Award Committee in Indian River County has chosen to recognize the group with the January Dyer Difference Award.

Support and encouragement were also top of mind in St. Lucie County, where the Dyer Difference Award Committee chose to recognize and honor United Against Poverty, a nonprofit organization which serves thousands of St. Lucie County families each month, with the January Dyer Difference Award. Since 2003, UAP has been providing crisis stabilization services, emergency food, educational opportunities, and job-readiness training to offer a hand-up instead of a handout to those in need in St. Lucie County. To help raise both awareness about UAP and to assist with program funding, the organization is planning the Fool’s Day 5K family-friendly, sanctioned run/walk is the only night-time race in the area and will allow participants a chance to go over the South Causeway Bridge and through the Causeway Cove Marina, too. Understanding the importance of promoting dignity and offering a hand-up to members of the community through workforce training and educational opportunities, members of the Dyer Difference Award Committee chose United Against Poverty as the January Dyer Difference Award recipient.

The Dyer Difference Award is all about celebrating the beauty and kindness in our midst. For the Dyer family and the members of the Dyer staff, the award and the $6,000 in donations made monthly between the St. Lucie and Indian River Counties are all about helping to make a positive difference in the community. For the recipients, it’s an acknowledgement of their tireless efforts to do the same and a much-needed financial boost to help further their missions. If you’d like to nominate a non-profit organization for the Dyer Difference Award, please visit http://www.dyerdifference.org or find Dyer Difference on Facebook.