news release

It’s, “Lights. Camera. Action” in Indian River County as the curtain rises on the annual Vero Beach Film Festival. The annual event which celebrated independent filmmaking, helps to enrich the community culturally, and its growing popularity are helping the area to become a destination for independent filmmakers (and fans) everywhere. Each year, over 1,000 individuals come to sample the latest films, served by over 100 volunteers, and sharing hundreds of films including comedies, dramas, documentaries, and shorts to helping to raise funds to support other local nonprofit organizations and the good work they do. When the direction yelled, “Action!” this year, the Dyer Difference Award was presented to the Vero Beach Film Festival, and the crowd cheered in enthusiastic support.

The old maxim is that dogs are man’s best friend, and while that may well be true, a K-9 officer is more than a best friend for a first responder. He (or she) is a partner willing and ready to sacrifice everything for the safety of its handler and partner. It seems only fitting, then, that K-9 officers receive recognition and respect from the community they serve, and that is the goal of Boy Scout Jayce Masters. The Port St. Lucie teen chose to honor all St. Lucie Sheriff’s K-9 officers who have served since the unit’s inception in 1981. As an Eagle Scout candidate, Masters is spearheading the fundraising, purchase, and installation of a statue and monument to recognize and celebrate what he calls the “living, breathing, partners and family members,” who serve the community through this special law enforcement unit. The St. Lucie County Dyer Difference Award in June will help Masters achieve his goal.

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.