Nicor's 8th Annual Volunteer Day Draws 750 Volunteers; Record Number of Participants Pitch in to Help Communities Across Northern Illinois.

Business Editors

NAPERVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2004

On May 15 nearly 750 Nicor employees, their families and community members joined together to provide assistance at 15 sites across northern Illinois as part of Nicor's 8th annual Volunteer Day in the Community. This year's event drew by far the largest participation across our communities.

Volunteers performed 15 service projects in 13 communities, ranging from food sorting at area pantries to beautification projects at various sites. This year, there was an emphasis on energy efficiency as senior citizens and others in need received energy-saving enhancements and learned how to conserve energy in their homes.

Every year, Nicor dedicates the third Saturday in May as "Nicor Volunteer Day in the Community," where employees, their families and community members spend their day doing charitable tasks to benefit communities and non-profit groups. Volunteer projects are organized and led by Nicor employees who partner with an agency in need of volunteer assistance. Project sites included:

-- Arlington Heights - Volunteers spruced up the grounds and

painted the exterior of The Wright House's temporary housing

facility for formerly homeless families.

-- Aurora - Nicor, Aurora Senior Services, Dreyer Medical and the

Greater Aurora United Way conducted safety, health and energy

efficiency inspections at the homes of Aurora seniors.

-- Batavia - Volunteers joined Friends of the Fox River to clean

up the river banks.

-- Bellwood - Volunteers worked with the Boys and Girls Club of

West Cook County to perform safety and energy inspections and

to clean the homes of families in need.

-- Bloomington - Nicor, Kiwanis of Bloomington and W.D. Boyce Boy

Scouts of America joined efforts to perform health, energy

efficiency and safety inspections and outdoor clean-up

projects at the homes of area seniors.

-- Chicago Heights - Nicor volunteers partnered with Bethel

Community Facility, Bloom Township Senior Services, city

officials and the fire department to conduct energy, health

and safety inspections and outdoor clean-up projects at the

homes of seniors.

-- DeKalb - Volunteers sorted and organized food donations at the

DeKalb County Food Pantry.

-- Joliet - Volunteers sealed the basement floor of the new

Hospice home.

-- Naperville - Loaves and Fishes food pantry received assistance

from Nicor volunteers who sorted and organized food donations.

A second group of volunteers revamped exhibits and beautified

the grounds at the DuPage Children's Museum.

-- Villa Park - Volunteers cleaned the grounds of the Easter

Seals of DuPage.

-- Wilmington - Nicor volunteers partnered with area community

groups and conducted health, safety and energy inspections at

the homes of seniors.

-- Woodstock - Volunteers beautified the grounds of two sites in

Woodstock, Hearthstone Manor and at the Adult and Child Rehab

Center.

-- Yorkville -Volunteers worked with the Friends of the Fox River

and cleaned up the banks of the Fox River.

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. Nicor also owns and has an equity interest in several energy-related businesses. For more information, visit the Nicor website at www.nicor.com.