CREO DuPage was awarded a $5,000 diversity pillar grant to launch a college access and leadership development program for Latinx students and families in DuPage County.  The program helps first generation students and their families navigate the transition to college through the exploration of career options, leadership skills training and bilingual family resources. CREO is expanding access to higher education for Latinx students and empowering their families to navigate the process together.

Nicor Gas awarded the Conservation Foundation a $5,000 Environmental Stewardship grant to support the Mighty Acorns program. Mighty Acorns is a stewardship-based curriculum for 3rd-5th graders that incorporates classroom learning and hands-on restoration and exploration activities. 

During last year’s program, Wallace Elementary School students learned about seeds, seed dispersal, local ecology, wildlife tracking and identifying bird species. At the first visit, students learned how to safely work with tools to cut invasive shrubs, haul and stack them. On the second field trip, they learned about woodland wildflowers and birds, and helped spread native prairie seed in an area that had been recently re-graded.

Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) received a $5,000 grant from Nicor Gas to support a savanna restoration project. The restoration project is part of a larger 165-acre effort to restore the prairie-wetland landscape in McHenry County, integrated into the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Over 100 volunteers, including high school students from Richmond-Burton High School and Alden-Hebron High School, cleared three remnant oak savannas of invasive weeds to prepare for the distribution of a native savanna seed mix. 

By involving students in restoring oak savannas, they contribute to conservation efforts and gain valuable education about the importance of healthy ecosystems.

The Firehouse Dream (TFD) is a creative arts nonprofit led by people of color and operated out of a rehabilitated firehouse in Maywood. TFD mentors the next generation of creative professionals, partnering with young adults from communities that have experienced disinvestment and teaching them creative skills, financial wellness, and mental health concepts through a mentorship program called “The Collective.” Last year, The Firehouse Dream was awarded a $5,000 grant from Nicor Gas to implement their mentorship program. Through our partnership, TFD participants acquired valuable technical expertise and received financial wellness training and other essential tools necessary for sustainable income generation.

Last year, 313 young people participated in the mentoring program.

For the last five years, Nicor Gas has been a proud sponsor of the Bloomington Polar Plunge, benefitting Special Olympics Illinois. Special Olympics Illinois provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disabilities, as well as in health education, leadership, and personal development. All funds raised go to support programming and events for almost 30,000 athletes in Illinois. 

Each year, our warm-hearted employees commit to plunging into a cold lake in the midst of winter, raising thousands of dollars for Special Olympics.

Did you know? In 2023, 18 Nicor Gas employees raised over $8,000 for Special Olympics of Illinois and willingly raced into the freezing cold waters of lakes in Bloomington, Crystal Lake and Oak Brook. 

The Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry is a vital resource in northern Illinois, annually distributing 3.6 million pounds of food to over 157,000 individuals. For years, Nicor Gas has partnered with Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry to help provide our neighbors the support they need to thrive. Last year, Nicor Gas awarded the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry $5,000 to support their newest initiative, mobile pantries. Their mobile pantry program addresses accessibility issues by delivering essential food boxes directly to those in need, serving over 3,000 individuals in the Fox Valley region.

Nicor Gas recognizes that theatre serves as a hub for community connection and creativity. Yet, accessibility often prevent individuals from fully engaging in theatrical experiences. Paramount is committed to dismantling these obstacles through its Paramount Access Program. Ticket prices for Paramount’s Broadway Series typically start at $50 – making a professional theatre experience inaccessible for many. With our grant support, Paramount hosted Pay-What-You-Can events, allowing 804 patrons to attend “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at an average ticket price of $7.77.

The theatre also offered American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and closed captioning services, ensuring more than 200 patrons with hearing impairments could fully engage with performances. 

Last year, with Nicor Gas’ support, 25 students participated in Lewis University’s Girls Create with Technology program. The program incorporates elements such as crafting, animal-themed animatronics, and programming environments that encourage girls to explore technology careers.

Participants form teams of three and are led by a Lewis mentor or faculty member, with each team comprised of three girls. The program begins with a four-day summer camp at the Lewis University campus. On the first day, girls delve into creative and computational thinking using design software, developing and presenting stories featuring characters they animate. The following days introduce programming and animatronics, ending with a showcase of their robotic creations.

Shelter Care Ministries operates a transformative housing program aimed at providing shelter, restoring hope, and preserving dignity for individuals and families facing chronic mental illness and homelessness in the Rockford area. Nicor Gas provided a $5,000 grant to support the housing program, helping to ensure that families in crisis have a safe place to live. Last year, Shelter Care’s family housing program supported 129 parents and children who otherwise would have to stay at a homeless shelter. Shelter Care’s program allows families to live in furnished houses and apartments, providing privacy and dignity.

Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs (NBT) is a nonprofit organization helping to engage youth in the manufacturing industry. Their summer Manufacturing Camps for students aged 12-16 in Cook, DuPage, and McHenry counties are aimed at addressing the shortage of workers within the U.S. manufacturing industry. These camps play a crucial role in introducing young minds to the diverse opportunities within manufacturing. Nicor Gas awarded NBT with a $5,000 grant to support these camps.

Last summer, 22 camps were held in the northern Illinois region. 132 youth participated in the camps, learning about topics such as basic machining, fabrication, welding and 3D printing.