Nicor Contributed More Than $1.8 Million in 2004 to Philanthropic Efforts Across Northern Illinois
Published 02-21-05
Submitted by NICOR Inc.
NAPERVILLE, IL - Nicor today announced the company and its employees contributed more than $1.8 million in 2004 to philanthropic efforts throughout northern Illinois. The company's employees joined with community members to donate their time, talent and money to 825 worthy causes throughout the year, further growing the company's philanthropic mission and commitment to volunteer efforts.
The company's 2004 philanthropic activities included:
Donating a total of $1.1 million to 44 United Ways and 1,100 agencies as part of the company's annual campaign. The generous donation was from employee and company contributions. Nicor has ranked in the top 30 of Chicago corporate donors for 12 years at the $1 million dollar level.
Nicor, its employees, customers and the public contributed $361,000 to the Sharing Program, a home heating assistance program and helped 1,860 households in 2004. Since the program's inception in 1983, the program has raised $12 million in assistance and helped 70,000 families.
Nicor also helped 900 deserving college-bound students with scholarships through Illinois Dollars for Scholars in 2004. The company has helped establish 150 local chapters throughout northern Illinois and is the founding sponsor of the Illinois chapter.
As part of the company's "Nicor Volunteer Day in the Community," the third Saturday each May, nearly 750 volunteers participated in 15 projects in 13 northern Illinois communities, the largest in the eight-year history of the event.
More than 100 Nicor employees raised approximately $20,000, including the company match, for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica.
More than 600 Nicor employees invested their time and talents to support 500 different not-for-profit organizations year-round. In turn, the company provided approximately $90,000 in grants to those organizations, through Matching Grants and Volunteer in Partnership Grants, where the company matched donations to those organizations.
Nicor is the founding sponsor of Community Resource Network's chicagovolunteer.net, a Web site that brings together volunteers with more than 2,500 volunteer opportunities posted each day.
Nicor assisted nine not-for-profits with facility expansion by supporting their capital campaigns totaling $45,000.
Nicor used its talents to help local organizations with major fundraising events for organizations such as Access Living, Voices for Illinois Children and the American Cancer Society.
The company also supported dozens of smaller community groups to help expand their capacity to serve more local residents. The groups included: Baby Fold, Operation Uplift, Mano A Mano Family Resource, YWCA in Aurora and Boys and Girls Club of West Cook.
"Nicor has a long-standing commitment to the communities it serves. This mission wouldn't be possible without the hundreds of Nicor employees that participate in philanthropic activities each year," said Julian Brown, manager of corporate contributions. "These employees not only give their time and talent, but they also donate their money for these much-needed programs."
"We truly believe in supporting and nurturing our employees' philanthropic activities, since it is consistent with our company's mission to be a partner in the communities in which we work and live," continues Brown.
To learn more about Nicor's philanthropic programs, visit www.nicor.com. Or contact Julian Brown, manager of corporate contributions at 630 388-2763.
Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company and is a member of the S&P 500. Its principal businesses are Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest natural gas distribution companies, and Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business serving the Caribbean region and the Bahamas. Nicor also owns and has an equity interest in several energy-related businesses.
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.
