Lake City Bank volunteers help complete the Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County’s project build in Mentone. From left to right: Stacy Price, Vice President, Financial Analyst; Shannan Hepler, Vice President, One Call Center Manager; Ben Logan, Executive Director; Kimberly Knoerzer, Assistant Vice President, Client Protection Services Assistant Manager; Karen Francis, First Vice President, Retail Banking Regional Manager; Haylee Brown, Retail Banker.

From its start in 1872, giving back has come naturally to Lake City Bank. Employees across the bank’s footprint take its core values of Stewardship and Community Service seriously. The work employees do as volunteers is deeply personal and rooted in a commitment to the communities where they live and work.

The bank’s 670 employees volunteered a total of 4,040 hours with organizations they care about in 2024.

Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County

Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County is a great example of an organization that bank employees support enthusiastically, helping build homes for local families in Kosciusko County.

Habitat for Humanity is part of the international organization founded in 1976 dedicated to building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families that need an affordable home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Volunteers work on each home the organization builds, with a typical project needing 1,000 to 1,500 volunteer hours logged toward its completion.

“Without volunteers from companies like Lake City Bank, this program wouldn’t be possible,” said Ben Logan, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County. “Volunteers are essential to the community-building process because they connect the local area and future homeowner. Those relationships help set up our homeowners, and ultimately our community, for long-term success. We truly appreciate the value that Lake City Bank team members bring to the table.”

In 2024, Lake City Bank employees volunteered 148 hours with Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County.

Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana

Lake City Bank volunteers in Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana’s Finance Park. From left to right: Stephany Garcia, Retail Banker; Lena Yarian, President; Steve Schumacher, First Vice President, Retail Banking Regional Manager; Cailyn Zechiel, Retail Banker; Luke Mungovan, Assistant Vice President, Commercial Banking Officer; Livia Rose, Retail Banking Officer; Natalie Ousley, Assistant Vice President, One Call Center Manager.

Lake City Bank employees have a long history working with Junior Achievement. In fact, many individuals count their involvement with Junior Achievement in decades, not years.

Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana is one of 100 local Junior Achievement Areas across the U.S. offering core content in work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to young people. Their mission extends beyond presenting content. The organization works to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in our evolving economy, own their economic success, and prepare for the future. That ambitious work takes many hands to deliver.

“Volunteerism is the heartbeat of Junior Achievement, helping our curriculum come alive with real-world experiences, sparking curiosity, and encouraging students to dream big,” said Lena Yarian, President of Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana. “Lake City Bank employees make a difference by sharing their expertise and serving as role models. They empower students with essential skills and strengthen community ties, leaving a lasting impact on the next generation.”

For the second year in a row, Lake City Bank was presented the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Award in 2024. The bank earned this recognition based on 1,385 volunteer hours contributed by its employees during the 2022-2023 school year. Created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, Lake City Bank is one of only 69 companies across the U.S. honored with the award, including much larger companies such as General Motors, Caterpillar and General Electric.

Overall, 170 Lake City Bank employees across the bank’s footprint volunteered with Junior Achievement in 2024.