John is very active outside of his restaurants, as well.  He has contributed to many community organizations and has received the following recognitions for his service:

• National Restaurant Association – 2024 Board of Directors
• Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association – 2022-2024 State Board of Directors Chair 
• Leadership Florida –  2021-2022 State Board of Directors Chair, Regional Council Chair, Co-Chair of Annual Meeting, Cornerstone Class 28
• Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association – Suncoast Chapter Past President and Treasurer
• US House of Representatives testimonial before the Ways & Means Sub-Committee
• Manatee Chamber of Commerce – Past Board Chair
• Bradenton Area EDC – Executive Board
• Manatee Technical College – Advisory Board of the Culinary Program (Past Chairman)
• University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee – Advisory Board for the College of Hospitality and Tourism Leadership
• State College of Florida – Member of Board of Trustees
• Campaign for Grade-Level Reading –  National Reading Champions
• City of Bradenton Beach – CRA Board Member
• Leadership Manatee Alumni Association – Board Member
• School District of Manatee County – Citizens Advisory Board Member and Past Chair
• Bartow High School Hall of Fame
• PACE Center for Girls – Capital Campaign Co-Chair
• PACE Center for Girls – Honorary PACE Girl!
• American Cancer Society
• Manatee Tiger Bay Club – Community Advocate
• AMI Community Center – Executive Committee
• Hernando De Soto Historical Society – Honorary Member
• Together Manatee – Founding Board Member

John is married to Amanda Horne, who shares his passion for improving education in their community.

 Amanda works to encourage inclusivity in our community and has spent her career championing access to educational opportunities. The Hornes have been recognized for their leadership and philanthropy by numerous organizations. One award of special significance to the Hornes is receiving the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award in 2018 for their work with their Dive into Reading program, a Summer Grade-Level Reading program for Title I schools in Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties now entering its seventh summer where the 2,500th student will attend the program, collaborating with many local restaurants. They were recent recipients of the Manatee Chamber’s Bob P. Bartz Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Pace Center for Girls Statewide Believing in Girls Award for their years of dedication to girls including co-chairing a $6 Million Capital Campaign.

They hosted an annual golf tournament for 11 years raising over $600,000…open their home frequently to fundraisers for PACE Center for Girls, Women’s Resource Center, and Cancer Support Center among others.  John & Amanda firmly believe in collaboration with others and joined forces with another local couple (Stewart & Trudy Moon) to host a new fundraiser, The Horne & Moon Scholarship Social.  In only five years, this event raised more than $500,000 to help adult students return to school at Manatee Technical College, State College of Florida and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

The Anna Maria Oyster Bars have been named Small Business of the Year by the Greater Sarasota, Longboat Key and Manatee Chambers of Commerce.

There is life outside the restaurant as well. John & Amanda enjoy traveling anywhere, but usually, there’s a cooking class with wine along the way.