FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 31, 2025
Contact: Wendy Dwyer
Phone: 772-359-6833
Email: wld1@bellsouth.net
Indian River County Photos Courtesy of Ilena Luts: Jeff Blaney - director of culture and development, April McCoy, Executive Director or Veteran Council IRC, Col. Carlos Halcomb, Retired US Air Force, Ben Williams, Director of Fixed Operations - IRC
St. Lucie County Photos Courtesy of Ilena Luts: Dyer General Manager William Peck presents the Dyer Difference Award to PATCHES Director of Nursing Latesha Weems-Ingram and Human Resources Director Cherisse Green.
Children and Veterans Benefit from Miracles, Hope, and the July Dyer Difference Award
Every day, the staff at PATCHES PPEC Medical Daycare generates a host of miracles that provide hope, help, health, and a little bit of happiness into young lives that are already filled with way too many challenges. PATCHES PPEC stands for Pediatric Alternative Treatment, Care, Housing & Evaluation Services, Inc., and PPEC means Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care. PATCHES is a nursing center that cares for medically complex children aged from birth to 21 years, who need nursing care every day regardless of the ability to pay. If qualified, PATCHES patients receive OT, PT and speech therapy, and the facility has a full time registered respiratory therapist as well RNs, LPNs, CNA's, EMT's and Paramedics in unit on hand to insure a safe bus ride to and from the center.
Recent changes to Medicaid have meant that more of the area’s children are being denied services, so the July Dyer Difference Award will help PATCHES PPEC provide services for children who meet the medical criteria but might otherwise be denied access to care. Up to 40 children throughout the Treasure Coast utilize PATCHES PPEC daily, some for life-support services, others for IV therapy, and still others for tube feedings, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, renal failure, or simply low birth weight. Putting themselves in another’s shoes and choosing to help families with children who need a little extra TLC was not a hard choice for the crew at Dyer, which is why PATCHES PPEC is being recognized with the July Dyer Difference Award.
The Veterans Council of Indian River County works with 16,000 veterans in Indian River County to help provide support and encouragement and a hand up to fellow veterans during difficult times. Some of the programs and services offered by the Veterans Council include Veteran Advocacy and Outreach, Assistance navigating the VA – Veterans’ Affairs department, emergency financial assistance, case management and access to other resources, and courtesy shuttle rides to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach for medical and local appointments. Even small services like a ride to an appointment are often critical and missing pieces of a puzzle that keep things from coming together and life from working out smoothly for many veterans. To help ensure services continue, the organization hosts an annual Clay Shoot, each fall, and proceeds from the event help provide the critical services offered. The July Dyer Difference Award in Indian River County will help sponsor this year’s October 11th Clay Shoot to raise funds for the Veterans Council of Indian River County and will help support the 16,000 veterans whose lives are made better by its existence and compassionate care.
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 contributions 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.
Wendy Dwyer
Email: wldwyer@gmail.com
Phone: 772.359.6833
Website: www.wendydwyer.com
Never doubt that a small, thoughtful group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead