Wayne Walter Dyer was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 10, 1940. His father, Melvin Lyle Dyer was a prisoner, an alcoholic, and a thief who abandoned the family, leaving his mother, Hazel Vollick, to raise three small boys on her own. She made the painful decision to place her children in foster care where they bounced around for 10 years. During that time, Hazel struggled and worked steadfastly to be able to reunite with her boys.
After graduating from high school, Wayne served in the U.S. Navy from 1958-1962. He received his Ed.G. degree in counseling from Wayne State University after which he went on to become a high school guidance counselor and later a professor of counseling psychology at St. John’s University in New York City. He pursued an academic career, published in journals, and established a private therapy practice.
Over the four decades of his career, he wrote more than 40 books, including 21 New York Times bestsellers. He created many audio and video programs and appeared on thousands of television and radio shows. He starred in 10 National Public Television specials featuring his books which raised over $250 million for public television.
Despite the challenges Wayne faced throughout his time in foster care as well as the hardships inflicted by his parents’ abandonment, Wayne came away having learned valuable lessons about forgiveness and compassion. These helped to construct his principal message that every person has the potential to live an extraordinary life.
There are nearly 2,600 children in foster care in Miami-Dade County. Perhaps there is a Wayne Dyer among them. Help us bring out the full potential in every foster child. Be A Voice by donating to their dreams!
