The word “Bingo!” rang out through the halls of Rittenhouse Village At Portage, and its competitive players waited in anticipation to see if it was a winning card.
The community hosted its annual Vera Bradley Bingo charity event on Nov. 2, inviting all local members. Participants had a chance to win Vera Bradley purses and bags.
The Rittenhouse Village is a resident-focused community dedicated to welcoming all senior citizens with open arms. It is dedicated to providing pleasant amenities including comfortable apartments, social and recreational events, and various health and wellness programs in order for its residents to live happy and healthy lives.
The Vera Bradley Bingo event is an effort to fundraise for two senior local senior communities: the Bonner Senior Center in Portage and the Maria Reiner Center in Hobart.
“I come to participate in the event because it is a good way to give back to the community,” said bingo winner Ronda Waters. “I also just love Vera Bradley. It is a great way to get away and do something different.”
Some of the sponsors for the event were Dunes Hospice, Harbor Light Hospice, FirstLight Home Care, and Providence Hospice and Home Care.
“This is one of our biggest fundraisers,” said Danielle Balek, Senior Lifestyle Counselor of Rittenhouse Village At Portage. “Today we raised $1,500, and the proceeds will be divided in half as they go to their respective communities. This funding will be used for the senior centers’ various programming and wellness care.”
The senior centers are a vital tool for Northwest Indiana because as people get older, they are there to provide senior citizens opportunities to comfortably enjoy their lives around people who care for and love them.
“This event is a lot of fun,” said attendee Aurora Elizabeth Olivarri, who said this was the second Vera Bradley Bingo she has attended. “The bingo games get surprisingly competitive, but I think that just adds to the overall fun factor that the event brings to the table.”
“I think the bingo brings the community together to work towards a common cause,” said Amanda Elkins, Director of Health and Wellness. “For our next fundraiser, we hope to have just as strong of a turnout as today’s event.”
Look out for Rittenhouse Village At Portage’s next upcoming event, Holiday Bazaar, on Dec. 6.
To learn more about Rittenhouse Village At Portage and its upcoming events, visit their website at www.rittenhousevillages.com