On Saturday, May 20, Nicor employees and their families will gather from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in six communities to work on a variety of landscaping and beautification projects. This year, volunteers will work on various projects in the following communities: Sugar Grove, Crystal Lake, Kankakee, Bellwood, Romeoville and Rockford. Projects range from the refurbishing of the Fox Valley Girl Scout Camp to landscaping and clean-up at three parks in Bellwood. Local groups such as Youth Outreach Services in Bellwood and the Fox Valley and Sybaquay Girl Scouts Councils will team up with Nicor to participate in this year's Volunteer Day in the Community. For more information call the Nicor Volunteer Day Hotline at 630 983-8676, extension 2934.

This is the fourth year for Volunteer Day in the Community. It began with Nicor employees expressing the desire to improve their communities. While Nicor is a major supporter of the United Way, giving $1.1 million in 1999, employees wanted to do more than just donate money. Thus, the idea of Volunteer Day in the Community was born. Nicor sent letters to United Way-sponsored agencies and asked how they could help. Agencies responded with their requests for services and Nicor employees, family members and friends responded by donating their time to various projects in their communities.

Last year, in addition to the landscaping, repair and cleaning projects, Nicor volunteers collected almost four tons of food during a Clean Up Hunger food drive. Proceeds were delivered to the Salvation Army in Joliet, the Heart of Bellwood Food Pantry and the Bethlehem Center Food Bank in St. Charles.

Nicor (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company. Its principal businesses are Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies, and Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business that operates between Florida and the Caribbean. Nicor also owns several energy-related subsidiaries and is a partner in Nicor Energy, a provider of unregulated energy products and services. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicorinc.com.

NICOR Inc.

NICOR Inc.

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 an equity interest in several energy-related businesses.

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