Dr. Rick Sasso is a Warsaw Tiger to his core. Even though he and his wife, April, and their three daughters currently live in Indianapolis, Rick is a proud Kosciusko County native and Warsaw Community High School graduate. When they considered where to establish the Rick and April Sasso Scholarship Fund, the choice felt obvious. “I was blessed with an amazing childhood and development through our public school system,” Rick said. “Warsaw Community provided me with a wonderful skill set to compete, prosper and help make our world better. Through this scholarship, we want to make it possible for an outstanding and deserving student from Warsaw to attend the Indiana school of their dreams.”
Rick attended Wabash College for his undergraduate studies. (Afterward, Rick and April attended Indiana University, Rick for medical school and April for a business degree.) Rick co-founded and is president of Indiana Spine Group, where he specializes in spinal surgery. He has dedicated his career to treatment and surgery of spinal disorders and is actively involved in spinal research.
Together with their three adult daughters, Maria (Sasso) Chinni, Willa and Pilar, the Sasso family has generously supported many charitable causes throughout Indiana – including projects in Warsaw and Winona Lake. “We love the lakes!” April said. The family owns a second home on Winona Lake and spends most of their summers on the water. “We all enjoy waterskiing, and our daughter Willa and her fiancé like to sail. Although our daughters were raised in Indianapolis, they spent a significant amount of their childhood on Winona Lake with family and friends,” she added.
April is involved in several non-profit organizations that work to combat childhood hunger, care for the elderly and support families with unexpected pregnancies. Rick and April share a passion for animals and conservation – they support the Indianapolis Zoo, where April also serves as a board member. Together, the couple pursues several hobbies, including water and snow skiing, tennis and watching their daughters grow.
Through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Rick and April are glad to give back to the community that had such an impact on Rick’s life. “We want to invest in young students so they may have the best chance to positively impact us all,” Rick said. When asked what message he would give to future generations, Rick’s answer was simple: “Believe in yourself, bet on yourself, and dream big.”