During Challenging Economic Times Nicor Employees Gear Up to Give Back to Local Communities During 13th Annual Volunteer Day In honor of Volunteer Day Nicor donates $10,000 in capital grants to two local charities

Naperville, IL – Nicor employees, families, and friends will support the company’s commitment to philanthropy during the 13thAnnual Volunteer Day on Saturday, May 16.  Nicor’s Volunteer Day is an annual celebration of the company’s ongoing mission of contributing to the well-being of the communities it serves.  More than 1,000 Nicor volunteers will work alongside community members to complete 22 service projects at 21 locations throughout northern Illinois.

“Nicor’s dedication to strengthening our communities is a year-round commitment, but our annual Volunteer Day allows our employees to work alongside their neighbors as they give their personal time and talents to local non-profit organizations throughout northern Illinois,” said Russ Strobel, Chairman, President and CEO for Nicor, Inc. and Nicor Gas.  “Giving back to the communities we serve is a fundamental part of Nicor’s corporate values, so we are pleased to work hand-in-hand with friends and neighbors to make our communities better places to live.”

Also during Nicor’s 13th Annual Volunteer Day, the company will be providing $5,000 capital grants to the Northern Illinois Food Bank
in St. Charles and the DuPage Habitat for Humanity.  The Northern Illinois Food Bank's vision is to create a hunger-free northern Illinois by providing nutritious food to all those in need through its own efforts and those of its non-profit partners.  Nicor’s grant will be used for additional freezer/refrigeration capacity and warehouse space.  The mission of the DuPage Habitat for Humanity is to provide opportunities for homeownership to limited-income individuals and families.  Their grant will be used for housing construction and rehabilitation.

This year, volunteers will help local entities by performing a variety of community service activities, including landscape renovation, outdoor cleaning activities, sorting food and household goods for families in need, planting greenery, gardening, painting, river clean-up, and repair work.

“Our commitment to Volunteer Day is taking on additional significance this year, given the current recession and the burdens being felt by residents and organizations throughout the region,” continued Strobel.  “It is inspiring to see the continued level of participation among our volunteers and community partners during this time of need.  I am pleased that so many communities will benefit from our Volunteer Day efforts, and I am especially proud
of our Nicor employees as they once again demonstrate their dedication to give back to the communities they serve.”

In 2008, the company contributed through its various philanthropic activities more than $2 million in corporate and employee donations – and thousands of volunteer hours – to 1,200 organizations and causes in communities throughout northern Illinois.  Nicor’s 13th Annual Volunteer Day involves 22 activity sites in 21 communities across the state. 

The variety of activities planned includes:

Volunteers will be adding aluminum siding to a house and garage for Habitat for Humanity, located at 438 W. Ronald Drive in Addison. At Loaves and Fishes, located at 2707 N. Eola Road in Aurora, volunteers will be sorting food
collected during recent community drives.

Community spaces in Batavia will benefit as volunteers perform clean-up activities at Clark Island.  Volunteers for
this project will meet on the east side of Clark Island in the parking lot off Route 25. 

Volunteers, many of whom will be accompanied by their young children, will complete a craft project at the Brookfield Zoo, located at 3300 Golf Road in Brookfield.

In Capron, volunteers will be sorting food and household goods for families in need at the Boone County Food Pantry, located at 200 S. 5th Street.

Volunteers in Carthage helped with landscape renovations
at the World of Wonder Park on May 2.

Volunteers in Chicago Ridge will meet at the Animal Welfare League, located at 10305 Southwest Highway, to work on landscaping and outdoor cleaning projects.

Outdoor cleanup and landscaping will take place at the Seguin Services residential facilities for children and adults with disabilities, located at 3100 S. Central Avenue in Cicero.

The Salvation Army Food Pantry will task volunteers with sorting and organizing food at 830 Grove Street in DeKalb.

SafeNow, located at 2505 E. Washington Street in Joliet, will have volunteers assisting with landscaping and outdoor cleaning activities.

Volunteers will perform a variety of outdoor spring cleaning projects, including planting greenery and installing tree cages at Morton Arboretum, located at 4100 Illinois Rt. 53 in Lisle.

At the Rainbow Council Boy Scout Camp in Morris, volunteers will be clearing brush, landscaping and spring cleaning outdoor spaces.  Participants will meet at 2600 Winterbottom Road.

Volunteers at the Little Friends center in Naperville will be working on outdoor maintenance projects, including landscaping, gardening and painting.  Little Friends is
located at 140 N. Wright Street.

Naperville volunteers will also participate in DuPage River clean-up and beautification activities.  Participants will meet
at the Downtown Naperville Riverwalk.

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.

Volunteers will perform repair work, gardening, and a variety of outdoor spring-cleaning projects at Catholic Charities referred residences in Robbins.  Volunteers will meet at
14139 S. Claire Road.

The Rock River Valley Food Pantry, located at 1080 Short Elm Street 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.

Woodridge Community Pantry, located at 6809 Hobson Valley Drive #118, will receive food sorting and packing assistance from Woodridge volunteers.

Volunteers at the Hearthstone Manor, a live-in facility for seniors, located at 920 N. Seminary Avenue in Woodstock, will be involved in an outdoor clean-up and beautification project.