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May 12, 2008
Naperville, IL – Nicor employees, families, and friends will support the company's commitment to volunteerism during the 12th Annual Volunteer Day on Saturday, May 17. Nicor's Volunteer Day is an annual celebration of the company's year-round commitment of contributing to the well-being of the communities it serves. Along with community members, hundreds of Nicor employees will complete 18 service projects at 17 locations throughout northern Illinois.
"Nicor is dedicated to building better communities through volunteerism. Each year Nicor employees help demonstrate this commitment by participating in our annual Volunteer Day event where they share their personal time, talents, and financial resources to benefit local non-profit organizations throughout northern Illinois," said Russ Strobel, Chairman, President and CEO for Nicor, Inc. and Nicor Gas. "Contributing to the well-being of the communities we serve is an integral part of our corporate values, and Nicor is proud to partner with community members to help make our region a better place to live."
This year Nicor will highlight a special Volunteer Day project to benefit the Anna Emery Hanson Center in Burr Ridge. The Hanson Center will receive a $10,000 grant from Nicor to help make the organization more energy efficient. The grant will pay for Nicor Services to Aeroseal the organization's duct work, closing up to 90% of duct leaks while delivering greater comfort, cost savings, and cleaner air.
The Anna Emery Hanson Center – a part of the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities – provides leisure and recreational activities for more than 1,000 people each year. More than 100 Nicor volunteers will roll up their sleeves to beautify the outdoor spaces of the Hanson Center this Saturday.
Dr. Tim Andriano, Director of The Hanson Center, said, "We are thrilled that Nicor has generously offered to spruce up our property for spring. The services performed on Volunteer Day mean so much to the families that benefit from our programs and activities, and we appreciate Nicor volunteers investing their time on a Saturday to help out at the Hanson Center."
"Volunteer Day is important to everyone at Nicor because it allows us to give back in a very personal and tangible way," said Tom Kallay, Community Relations Director for Nicor who will serve as a Volunteer Day site coordinator in Burr Ridge. "It is inspiring to come together as a company to address specific and immediate needs in the local community."
In 2007, the company contributed through the various philanthropic activities more than $1.8 million – and thousands of volunteer hours – to 1,200 organizations and causes in communities throughout northern Illinois. Nicor's 12th Annual Volunteer Day involves 18 sites in 17 communities across Illinois (starting on May 2, volunteers helped Carthage with a landscape renovation at the World of Wonder Park). Activities will include:
- At Loaves and Fishes, located at 2707 N. Eola Road in Aurora, volunteers will be sorting food collected during recent community drives.
- Outdoor cleanup and landscaping will take place at the Seguin Services residential facilities for children and adults with disabilities located at 424 52nd Ave., in Bellwood.
- Volunteers in Bloomington will perform repair work and a variety of indoor and outdoor spring cleaning projects at the Marcfirst Center. Community spaces in Bloomington will also benefit as volunteers perform clean-up activities at the MLK Lake. Volunteers for both projects will meet at the northeast corner of Miller Park near the corner of Wood Street and Summit.
- Brookfield Zoo, located at 3300 Golf Road in Brookfield, will have volunteers, many with young children, complete a craft project.
- Volunteers will add a fresh coat of paint to the fences that surround the Hanson Center, located at 15W431 59th St., in Burr Ridge, which is a part of the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities.
- Volunteers will perform repair work and a variety of outdoor spring cleaning projects at Lions Hall, located at 480 S. Illinois St., in Coal City.
- At the Theodore McMillian Senior Center and Ford Heights Community Service Organization in Ford Heights, volunteers will be gardening, landscaping and spring cleaning outdoor spaces. Participants for both projects will meet at the Ford Heights Village Hall located at 1343 Ellis Ave.
- The Lamb's Fold Center, located at 153 S. Ottawa St., in Joliet, will have volunteers assisting with landscaping, cleaning and painting activities.
- Volunteers at the Senior Home Sharing program in Naperville will be working on outside maintenance, including landscaping, gardening, washing and staining a deck. The Senior Home Sharing site is located at 214 N. Eagle St.
- Volunteers at Lake Katherine will perform trail improvement efforts, laying wood chips and pulling weeds. Participants will meet at 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive in Palos Heights.
- The Rock River Valley Food Pantry, located at 1080 Short Elm St., in Rockford, will welcome volunteers to help sort and organize food donations.
- Volunteers will be sorting and organizing food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, located at 600 Industrial Drive in St. Charles.
- In Watseka, volunteers will partner with the Iroquois County American Red Cross to assist families affected by winter floods with indoor and outdoor clean-up activities at 214 E. (Rt. 24) Walnut St.
- To help residents save money and "go green," energy-efficiency kits will be given to 35 senior citizens' homes in Wilmington. Volunteers will also complete outdoor beautification projects at the sites. Volunteers will meet at the Civic Building, located at 805 River St., in Wilmington.
- Volunteers at the Hearthstone Manor, a live-in facility for seniors, located at 920 Seminary Way in Woodstock, will be involved in an outdoor clean-up and beautification project.
- Participants for the Lucas-Berg Reservoir walking path clean-up and beautification project will meet in Worth at the Village Hall, located at 7112 W. 111th St.
Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company and is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Its primary business is Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest natural gas distribution companies. Nicor owns Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business serving the Caribbean region and the Bahamas. In addition, the company owns and has equity interest in several energy-related businesses. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicor.com.
Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies. Owned by Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) a holding company, Nicor Gas has provided safe and reliable natural gas services for more than 50 years. The Company serves more than 2.1 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago.
For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicorgas.com. |
