Horizon Bank Recognizes Mike Sarver and Mary Wright for Community Service

Mike-Sarver-2013-WinnerHorizon Bank has honored advisors Mike Sarver and Mary Wright who is respected for putting community first. Sarver and Wright were given the bank’s Burton B. Ruby Community Service Award for 2013. The Ruby Award honors a Horizon employee who has significantly contributed to the communities they serve through volunteerism, leadership and contributions.

Sarver, Assistant Vice President and Business Banker - Portage, earned the Ruby Award for his dedication to the community. According to the advisor who made the nomination, “I learned from Mike at that early age about giving back to our community, as he was an advocate for community service and routinely encouraged me to get involved.”

Sarver is involved with the following organizations: Portage Police Department - Citizens Training Program Graduate; YMCA - Board of Directors President and Chair Person for the Strong Kid Campaign; Portage Township Education Foundation – President; Portage Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Treasurer; Rotary Club member; Portage Economic Development Corporation – Board of Directors; Horizon Bank’s Presidents Club. In the past, Mike has served with the Kiwanis Club and the Granger Business Association. In 2009, he earned the Volunteer of the Year award from the State of Indiana on the behalf of the YMCA.

Sarver stated, “I am a firm believer that we should all get involved in our communities to make a difference and I am extremely thankful to work for a company that recognizes the value that community service brings to our communities.”

Mary-Wright-Ruby-Winner-2013Wright, Assistant Vice President and Business Banker for Merrillville, earned the Ruby Award for her dedication to the community. According to the advisors who made the nomination, “Whenever there is a call to action, some people step back and some people step up. Mary knows one direction and it is always forward.”

Wright is involved with the following organizations: Rotary Club – Paul Harris Fellow honor; Merrillville Education Foundation; Merrillville Community School Corporation Supports; Northwest Indiana Community Support of Parkinson’s; Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce – Ambassador of the Year, 2011; Engaging Northwest Indiana Business Women – Treasurer; and Meals on Wheels. Wright was also an Athena Award nominee.

Wright stated, “That I’m very humbled to have been selected for this award and very honored to have been nominated by my fellow colleagues and friends. I very simply want my actions to be my legacy for my children and to teach them there are many rewards to thinking beyond ourselves and helping others.”

Burton “Bud” Ruby, for whom the award is named, has long been recognized for his outstanding activism in local and national concerns, including health care, education and commerce. He has received the human relation’s award by the B’nai B’rith and the State of Indiana’s highest civilian honor, The Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

Horizon Bancorp is a locally owned, independent, commercial bank holding company serving Northern and Central Indiana and Southwest Michigan through its commercial banking subsidiary, Horizon Bank, which also operates under the “Heartland Community Bank a Horizon Bank Company” name in certain markets. Horizon also offers mortgage-banking services throughout the Midwest. Horizon Bancorp may be reached online at www.accesshorizon.com. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol HBNC.