Verrado’s 12th Founder’s Day, a weekend-long celebration held March 24 – 26 this year, was yet another shining example of the vibrantly connected and engaged community we call home. In case you missed it—or you loved it so much you want to experience it all over again—here’s the weekend in a nutshell.

Cocktail Party

240 attendees

Verrado Grille was transformed into an ’80s style dance club where residents showcased an awesome display of neon, tulle, side ponytails, crimped hair and lace headbands. Partygoers strutted their stuff for the costume contest.[role_viewer role=”victory,verrado,administrator”]Winners Rod Horn and Lisa Barrett won meet-and-greet passes to mingle with Berlin, Tommy Tutone and Dramarama afters Saturday night’s concert.[/role_viewer] Without a doubt it was an awesome party with ’80s flair!

Heritage Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast

200 guests

The Heritage Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast brought residents out bright and early Saturday to rise to the challenge of a 10K, a 5K and a 1-mile fun run. A big thank you to Ignite Yoga for arranging a pre-run stretch, the United Buckeye Fire Fighter Charities who served griddle pancakes, and volunteers from Feed My Starving Children.[role_viewer role=”victory,verrado,administrator”]

Fastest runners

• 10K: Jeff Byers (39:57) and Kaycie Taylor (51:56)
• 5K: Joey Neu (22:37) and Lauren Reinhardt (26:03)[/role_viewer]

Block Party on Main Street

2,500 attendees

Twenty-four talented performers from the community took the stage during the Resident Variety Show hosted by Anderson Institute of Music. Leading up to the concert, Main Street was buzzing with family-friendly activities sponsored by our community partners, including a gaming trailer (sponsored by Summit Community Church), old-school arcade games (sponsored by Main Street Dental), and a rock climbing wall and carousel (sponsored by EPCOR Water). Then Dramarama + Tommy Tutone took to the stage followed by Berlin featuring Terri Nunn. It was an amazing night with the crowd singing along to well-known ’80s favorites.

Community Picnic

More than 40 volunteers collectively donated 55+ hours of time and talent; approximately 600 residents attended

Founders Park hosted Sunday’s Community Picnic, where traditions and competitions were the name of the game. Residents, including our canine friends, earned spirit award points by participating in DJ games and activities hosted by Verrado groups, clubs and community partners.

Congratulations to Astoria Gardens for winning the Neighborhood Spirit Award two years in a row! Astoria Gardens will enjoy a block party hosted by the Verrado Assembly, including a $250 Bashas’ gift card, a bounce house reservation and a banner to be hung throughout the year proclaiming “The Most Spirited Neighborhood” in Verrado. Astoria Gardens also produced the highest total for neighborhood baskets contributing to Feed My Starving Children’s fundraising efforts.

Everyone gathered to hear all of the contest winners (see below) and to participate in the community-wide photo, which captured the colorful crowd sporting their neighborhood t-shirts for the twelfth year in a row. Thank you to the Buckeye Fire Department for their assistance. The 51 new Founders Legacy Bricks are now on display in the pathway for everyone to see.

Thirty residents participated in the renowned BBQ Rib Competition.[role_viewer role=”victory,verrado,administrator”]

BBQ Rib Competition winners

• 1st place: Matthew Cormier (Jackson Green).
• 2nd place: Bryan Cary (Prospector)
• 3rd place: Gilbert Ochoa (Summit)[/role_viewer]

The Founder’s Day Chili Cook-off brought out 20 participants who shared their coveted recipes with judges and residents.[role_viewer role=”victory,verrado,administrator”]

Chili Cook-off winners

• 1st Place: Randal Hamar (Astoria Gardens)
• 2nd place: Marc Reid (Heritage Park)
• 3rd place: Stephen Manning (Turtles Landing)[/role_viewer]

Thirty-two resident teams showed off their skills in the Bean Bag Toss Competition, but only one team went home with the trophy.[role_viewer role=”victory,verrado,administrator”] Ryan Owens and Cory Acton (Astoria Gardens) have bragging rights until the next competition.[/role_viewer]

Throughout the weekend festivities, approximately $6,500 was raised to benefit The Giving Tree’s nonprofit partner Feed My Starving Children. For more information, please visit The Giving Tree webpage.

Plus, check out photos from the celebration on Verrado’s Facebook page.