On Tuesday, June 27, residents, employees, family, and friends gathered outside of Rittenhouse Village at Portage for its annual Block Party. The event featured food, games, a dunk tank, and music, and had many of the residents enjoying the sunshine with welcomed guests.
Rittenhouse has hosted an annual block party for several years, and it’s always a big hit with residents and their loved ones. It is a great way for residents to get out, chat with one another, and have a change in scenery and entertainment without having to leave the property. It also provided a unique opportunity for guests to tour the campus and get to know staff members in a relaxed setting.
“I think it's fabulous. It is something out of the ordinary. It's a beautiful day for it, so it’s wonderful to be outside. I really appreciate the vendors for being willing to come, and I’m certainly going to buy something because we want them to come back if we do a party like this again,” Resident Bonnie Frainier said.
Frainier is a relatively new resident of Rittenhouse, and the event was not only a great way to get out and mingle with friends, but to get to know some members of the community as well.
Food was available from four vendors, and a dunk tank fundraiser was held to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Guests and residents enjoyed dunking brave volunteers who endured the cold breeze and water for the cause.
One of the dunk tank volunteers, Brandon Galambos, attended the event because of his church’s ties to Rittenhouse employees and residents. Galambos serves as the outreach director of Hobart Assembly and knows several people who live or work at Rittenhouse. In addition to the residents at Rittenhouse, Galambos also supported a few congregation members who were some of the evening’s food vendors.
No matter how people were connected to Rittenhouse, the event was a great way for attendees to meet with their loved ones and the staff who cares for them every day. While it can be stressful to organize, Executive Director Kristin Pawlak feels the output is well worth the effort.
“It's just a fun time for everybody to gather around and laugh and have fun,” Pawlak said. “My favorite part about organizing the event is seeing it all come together once it's done because everybody really has a good time. I think it pays off for itself in the end. It is a lot of work to put it together, but being able to get everybody in the community to get together to do this is really what makes it fun.”
Rittenhouse is dedicated to providing unique entertainment for residents year-round, and the Block Party is just one of the many things residents can look forward to while living in the complex.
To schedule a tour, find future events, or simply learn more about the services and living arrangements offered at Rittenhouse Village at Portage, visit https://www.rittenhousevillages.com/rittenhouse-village-at-portage/.