A Smashing Success for The Source’s Annual Fundraiser “A Night of Hope”… “A Night of Restoration”

The 20th Anniversary of The Source’s Annual “Night of Hope” was held Thursday, February 6, at the Holy Cross Parish Hall in Vero Beach. Partnering with The O’Dare Boga Dobson Group with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, the event was themed “A Night of Restoration.” Several hundred guests enjoyed a complete fully catered cocktail period and sit-down dinner by Dignity Catering, an open bar, musical interludes by well-known Vero Beach pianist Jacob Craig, plants and florals by Aiello Landscaping, and a moving program that brought thundering applause and a standing ovation by the invitees.

In their 30th year of operation, The Source spends seven days a week creating life-changing possibilities for residents in crisis…helping to restore their lives into one of “Dignity.”  To that end, the evening’s inspirational keynote speaker was Tamara Day, the television host of Bargain Mansions which originated on HGTV and is now televised on the Magnolia Network. Tamara’s show, which recently completed its sixth season, is about staying true to a home’s architectural design and historical context while restoring it back to life. In many ways her goals correlate with those of The Source.

In the case of Tamara Day’s world, she restores neglected homes that others are too scared to handle and brings them back to life so families can move in and love them again. In the case of The Source, they work to restore the lives of the homeless, those who have been left on their own when others were unable to help them. They work to restore their lives so they can unite with their families who will love them again…as new and dignified people.  Tamara came to “Night of Hope”… “A Night of Restoration” to tell her story about how she sees the treasure in what once was, and how, with love and hard work, she can make it beautiful once more. Her presentation showed how restoring dignity to her homes relates to material goals as well as human goals in the case of The Source.

Other highlights in the program included a special recognition and gift presentation by Executive Director Anthony Zorbaugh to Margaret Anne Evans, a long-time supporter of The Source and an active Board Member. Development Director Jonathan Orozco, along with members of The Source, presented a photo of keynote speaker Tamara Day with members of The Source taken earlier in the day in front of a Dignity Bus.  It represented that she would be known as an Adopt a Pod supporter of Dignity Bus and her name would be added to the list of previous pod adoptees.

Zorbaugh also introduced an overview of the past, present and future of The Source, from its inception in 1995 through its growth process over the past thirty years and what is currently on the drawing board for the future. In addition to offering the broad spectrum of services and programs for the Source members, Zorbaugh looks at the expansion to the Dignity Bus program as well as other major plans that will continue to benefit homeless individuals in their membership as well as throughout Indian River County.

The Source is constantly in motion of creating innovative ways to support, train and empower the homeless to discover motivation and find confidence in their lives… teaching them to stand on their own two feet, assisting them in obtaining the resources necessary to become productive citizens and to achieve a lasting life recovery. To find out more information about The Source, contact Executive Director Anthony Zorbaugh (tony.zorbaugh@iamthesource.org) or Director of Development Jonathan Orozco (jonathan.orozco@iamthesource.org) at 772-564-0202 or visit their website www.iamthesource.org.