news release

Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of The Source, a Christian Outreach Ministry that serves the homeless and needy in Indian River County, has announced a program to help his clients who have dental needs.

Zorbaugh shared his reasons for initiating this program: “The Source clients enter our culinary training program to become eligible to apply for jobs in the food industry. Once eligible, they are ready to join the workforce and make a respectable income. But many have dental issues that affect their appearance could deter them from getting a job.”

He reached out to Vero Beach resident Dr. Thomas J. Balshi, a Board Certified Prosthodontist (now retired) and Founder of The Institute for Facial Aesthetics in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and his wife Joanne for their professional advice. She brings her decades of leadership as a trustee of the Pi Foundation in Fort Washington. The Pi Foundation raised funds to help pay for the materials and lab support in building prostheses and implants for indigent patients from around the country.

Along with Dr. Tom Balshi’s dental restoration knowledge and his connection as  mentor and consultant to a prominent dentist, Dr, Sadesh Kumar, founder of Wickham Dental Care in Melbourne, Florida, Balshi introduced Dr. Kumar to Tony Zorbough. Kumar is a full service dentist who specializes in aesthetics, orthodontics and implants.

After hearing about The Source and its client dental issues, another Dignity Program for The Source was founded, Dignity Smiles.

For those clients who are fully trained by The Source and eligible to enter the Dignity Smiles program, there is a protocol established that will ensure they are prepared to work as a respectful and dignified individual.

For some simple procedures it may take several visits valued up to $5,000. While for other clients who require whole mouth restorations through surgery or implants, it could take up to three months of visits valued at more than $35,000.  All of this would be covered through the Dignity Smiles program. The program will allow for one client per quarter.

The first client to receive a new smile through Dignity Smiles, as well as a new job, is Brigitte. Now 60, Brigitte was born and raised in Gifford. Needing assistance in finding a job to help pay the bills, she turned to the Dining with Dignity Culinary Program of The Source, which provides professional training to homeless and needy students in preparation for acquiring food-related employment within the community.  Following the completion of the program and graduating with a ServSafe Food Handler Certification, she qualified to become a recipient of upper and lower dentures as part of the Dignity Smiles program. She is now employed as a line cook at Mr. Manatee’s restaurant in Vero Beach.

Zorbaugh concludes, “Just like Brigitte, this new program will allow our clients, to smile again.  It helps change their mental and physical health. The pandemic has covered their faces with a mask. As they become ready to show their inner being without a mask, proper dentistry will make a difference in their confidence and their lives. That’s what we do at The Source. Change lives.”

For more information on Dignity Smiles, contact Anthony Zorbaugh at tony.zorbaugh@iamthesource.org or call 772-564-0202, Ext. 204. For more information on Dr. Sadesh Kumar, visit www.wickhamdentalcare.com.