Our Mission

Fort Wayne is blessed with a wide array of gifted cancer doctors — medical and radiation oncologists, hematologists, surgeons — as well as top-notch hospitals and treatment facilities.

But no matter how skilled our medical community is at treating cancer, successful outcomes depend on timely adherence to treatment protocols, which often require patients to make multiple visits over multiple weeks to one or more locations. This poses a real hardship for many: they can’t afford the gas for repeated treatments. This problem is compounded by steadily rising fuel costs.

The result? Tragically, some patients show up irregularly for chemotherapy or radiation. Even more tragically, some abandon treatment altogether.

The Dyer Memorial Fund, with help from our providing partner Lassus Handy Dandy, provides gas cards to cancer patients who qualify for assistance.

“With cancer, there’s no such thing as a minor expense.”

Our History

Our History

The fund was founded by Bud Dyer, a father and husband of cancer patients. Unfortunately, both his daughter, Jenee, and his wife, Pat, lost their battle. While Pat was receiving treatment, she and Bud heard stories of struggle from other patients undergoing chemo. The cost and time it took to travel to multiple treatments a week was taxing in more ways than one. To help, the Dyer family began buying gas cards for people they had gotten to know through the course of Pat’s treatment.

Before Pat died, she asked Bud to do all that he could to help cancer patients with their transportation costs. He continued to buy cards and distribute them to patients through various medical facilities. In 2010 the Pat Dyer Memorial Fund – a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization – was founded to purchase and distribute gas cards, and to solicit funds from community members and organizations to extend kindness to others. In 2024, we renamed ourselves The Dyer Memorial Fund to honor the memory of the entire Dyer family who have passed away.

Meet the Board

Julie Wilkens
President

Retired- Radiation Oncology Associates

Lisa Scott
Vice President

NextHome Impact Realty

Denise Glasser
Treasurer

Parkview Health

Lori Quakenbush
Secretary

Parkview Health

David Prahl

Retired- Lincoln Financial Advisors

Angie Hess

Radiation Oncology Associates

Caylin Boles

Parkview Packnett Family
Cancer Institute

Dr. Bogna Brzezinska

Parkview Health

Advisory Board

Glynda Harris
Advisory

Radiation Oncology Associates (Retired)

Sreenivasa Nattam, MD
Advisory

Fort Wayne Medical Oncology and Hematology

Michael Sokolowski
Advisory

YMCA (Retired)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is The Dyer Memorial Fund?

The Dyer Memorial Fund is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization that raises funds to offset travel costs to and from treatments for cancer patients.

Are donations tax deductible?

Yes, monetary donations to The Dyer Memorial Fund are tax deductible.

How are donations to The Dyer Memorial Fund used?

100% of donations made to The Dyer Memorial Fund are used to purchase gas cards and bus passes that are then distributed to area healthcare providers to give to patients in need.

Are there any Dyer Memorial Fund employees?

There are no paid employees for DMF. All board members and Friends of The Dyer Memorial Fund are 100% volunteer-based.

What is DMF’s tax ID number?

If you are interested in donating to The Dyer Memorial Fund, please use the following tax ID number: 36-4666679

Can I donate in honor or in memory of someone?

Yes, you can donate in honor of or in memory of someone. The name of the person you are honoring will be listed under our Friends of Dyer Memorial Fund on the How to Help page.

What does being a Friend of The Dyer Memorial Fund mean?

If you are a donor, sponsor, business partner, board member or volunteer with The Dyer Memorial Fund, you are a Friend of The Dyer Memorial Fund. We want to recognize everyone who makes our vision a reality and assists area cancer patients in continuing their treatments.

Where do I mail my donations?

If you are interested in mailing a donation, please send them to:

The Dyer Memorial Fund
6041 Stellhorn Road, Box 15282
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46885

Can I donate online?

Yes, you can donate online! Click the ‘Donate‘ button on our website to scan the QR code, use PayPal, or donate with a debit or credit card. When using your debit or credit card, you do not need a PayPal account. Simply enter your donation amount and click ‘Donate with Debit or Credit Card’.

dyermemorialfund.org

(260) 255-4662

Special Thanks to

patdyermemorialfund.org

(260) 267-9235

Special Thanks to