Nicor Gas awards $100,000 in grants to support community enrichment initiatives across its service territory

NAPERVILLE, IL – October 5, 2023 – Expanding on its commitment to support the vitality, sustainability and livability of neighborhoods across its service territory, Nicor Gas is announcing $100,000 in grants awarded to organizations to support their cultural and community enrichment programs. 

“At Nicor Gas, we are committed to improving our local neighborhoods through the support of organizations that make our communities better for everyone,” said Jackie Nagel, manager of Community Affairs. “Strong, stable communities depend on good citizens working together, and Nicor Gas is proud to be a citizen where we live, work and serve.” 

This year, Nicor Gas is proud to award 23 organizations with grants to support their cultural and community enrichment programming: 

Metropolitan Chicago/Statewide:

• Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity: Supports regional repair programs and affordable housing throughout the metro Chicago region.
• Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & NW Indiana: Supports girl-led programs that focus on social-emotional learning with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities. Through this program, girls complete community service projects, conduct science experiments and learn stress management techniques.
• Paramount Arts Centre, Inc.: Supports theatre engagement programming that seeks to increase accessibility to the arts. Program includes free preshow talks, panels, pride activities and community outreach and engagement events to engage those in the community who may not otherwise have access to theatre.
• Safe Families for Children: Supports programming for families in crisis to prevent the need for foster care or escalation of intervention. The programs primarily serve low-income single mothers facing homelessness or other crises. Trained volunteers look after children as their parents receive support for finding employment, mental health treatment and overall stabilization services.

 

Cook County:

• Anew – Building Beyond Violence and Abuse: Supports comprehensive services for survivors of domestic abuse including counseling, crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, community outreach, prevention, housing and transportation.
• Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County: Supports services for trauma-focused therapy, court advocacy, case management and crisis intervention for child survivors of abuse or family violence. 
• Gigi’s Playhouse – Hoffman Estates: Supports a math tutoring program for students with Down Syndrome that uses a multi-sensory, strength-based approach to build confidence with math skills.
• Gigi’s Playhouse – Tinley Park: Supports therapeutic programs to help advance speech and communication skills, literacy, math skills and motor skills. Programs are facilitated by certified therapists and are offered at no cost to families with children who have Down Syndrome.
• Hephzibah Childrens Association: Supports comprehensive therapeutic care to address the psychological and physical needs of abused and neglected children through a residential services program. The program facilitates their recovery, preparing children to live in a safe and stable family environment.
• Options for College Success: Supports a program that offers developmentally disabled adults’ speech and language skills to address executive function challenges in post-secondary life through instruction on working memory, emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility. Programs are offered across Cook, DuPage, Kane and Lake County.
• ·Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center: Supports the organization’s Mental Health Access Program which provides reduced-cost counseling and psychiatric care to individuals, couples and families who are uninsured or facing financial hardships across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties.
  

 

• Search, Inc.: Supports community integration activities for adults with developmental disabilities including housing, adult learning, employment and other supportive services. In addition, the program offers recreational activities, shopping experiences, visits to restaurants and volunteering opportunities to build life skills.
• The Firehouse Dream: Supports creativity-based mental health programming for BIPOC young adults ages 15-22 who live or go to school in the Proviso Township School District. Programs include community-based mental health workshops, mental health resource kits and creative entrepreneurship programs.
• Wellness House: Supports psychosocial and cultural competency programs including individual counseling, exercise classes, recreational activities, classes and workshops to communities facing disproportionate cancer burdens in Cook and DuPage Counties.

DuPage County: 

• Community Career Center: Supports career and networking programs including workforce planning support, soft skills training and job seeking.
• ·National Alliance on Mental Illness DuPage County: Supports their Education and Support Services Program that addresses chronic mental illness using a comprehensive approach to education, treatment options and resources.

DeKalb County:

• Family Service Agency of DeKalb County: Supports youth programming including a 24-hour runaway/lockout intervention program and social-emotional learning groups to help develop healthy coping skills and reduce negative social behaviors.

Kane County:

• Tri-City Family Services: Supports comprehensive mental health services including affordable counseling, crisis intervention, prevention and early intervention services and case management.

Stephenson County:

• Freeport Arts Center: Supports the smArt After School program in collaboration with the local Boys and Girls Club and YMCA. This program engages underserved youth in dynamic visual and performing arts activities in ways that provide problem-solving approaches and boost self-confidence.

Grundy County:

• Illinois Valley Industries: Supports programming and services for adults with developmental disabilities in Grundy County. Programs include job readiness, independent living skills and community access and engagement.

McHenry County: 

• Raue Center for the Arts: Supports an arts education program that engages youth in performing arts from music, dance, and drama to visuals arts, poetry and design.
• Rosecrance Foundation: Supports mental health and substance abuse treatment services for the McHenry County community including a mobile crisis response program, a suicide and crisis hotline, case management services and direct mental health and counseling services.

Will County: 

• Stepping Stones, Inc.: Supports substance abuse treatment including assessments, residential care, recovery homes, intensive outpatient treatment, counseling services, support groups, recovery support services and family services.

To learn more about Nicor Gas’ commitment to cultural and community enrichment initiatives, visit www.NicorGas.com/CharitableGiving.