Dyer Difference Award promotes education and sportsmanship
For the past 15 years, youth in South Florida who might not have had a whole lot of chances to learn, develop leadership skills, and grow to their fullest potential have been finding their way to The Motivational Edge. Founded in 2008 by Ian Welsch, the program started with a focus on literacy and health and soon expanded to include academic, musical, and physical education programming for at-risk and foster youth. During the pandemic lockdown, it was one of the few organizations to provide day shelter, hot meals, academic assistance, and other essential services to youth in the community. In 2022, Motivational Edge launched on the Treasure Coast, and in July, the new Learning Center in Vero Beach opened, with the hope of benefitting nearly 60 youth each day with programs ranging from Creative Writing and Visual Arts to Academic Tutoring, Dance, and even night-time support services. This broad spectrum of service and care for the next generation prompted the Dyer Difference Award Committee to select The Motivational Edge as the July recipient of the Dyer Difference Award and recognition in Indian River County.
In St. Lucie County, everyone knows about Fort Pierce Central's High School Football Program. Every day, 125 young athletes work hard, train, and compete on the gridiron, hoping for victory among the Friday night lights and learning about teamwork, good sportsmanship, and working hard to achieve a dream. Along the way, the student athletes are instructed in how to work hard and be disciplined, how to be responsible for one's successes and failures, the importance of not always being the leader, the value of practice and sacrifice, and how to see something through to its fruition even if the result isn't always a big win. These lessons are the ones that make us better team members, better community members, and better people, and for members of the St. Lucie County Dyer Difference Award Committee, they were important lessons to celebrate in school and in life, and this month, they form the foundation of the July Dyer Difference Award celebration. Embracing the power of teamwork is a lesson that will help the student athletes now and throughout their careers and lives.
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 www.dyerdifference.org or find Dyer Difference on Facebook.
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