Nicor Gas named the recipient of The Salvation Army's 2023 "Others" Award
Today, Nicor Gas was named the recipient of The Salvation Army North & Central Illinois Division's 2023 "Others" Award at the nonprofit's annual Civic Luncheon. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization that exemplifies an extraordinary spirit of service to others, not only through support of The Salvation Army but the broader community as well.
The "Others" Award is rooted in the history of The Salvation Army, dating back to the early 1900s when General William Booth, the Army's founder, wanted to send a word of encouragement and direction to his officers around the world.
"We are honored to be this year's recipient of The Salvation Army's 'Others' Award and are appreciative of our decades long partnership to meet the greatest needs in our communities," said Wendell Dallas, president and CEO of Nicor Gas. "The Salvation Army has always been an incredible friend to us and to our customers when they need it most. We could not support our communities across Northern Illinois without their tireless work and commitment to make our region better every day."
Nicor Gas has partnered with The Salvation Army since 1983, first with the company's Sharing Program, which is funded by the generous donations of employees and customers to offer bill payment assistance to eligible residential Nicor Gas customers in need. Three years ago, the company launched the Energy Aide Program, in partnership with The Salvation Army and other select local agencies, to further assist families who need extra help with their bills.
In 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicor Gas partnered again with The Salvation Army to create and administer Shield of Caring to provide emergency financial and basic needs assistance, as well as homelessness prevention across a 37-county area throughout Chicago and Northern Illinois.
To date, Nicor Gas has committed $10 million to Shield of Caring, which in its first year, awarded $1.75 million in grants supporting nearly 8,000 customers with bill payment assistance and supported 9,500 families with basic needs including winter coats, food boxes and emergency disaster services. The company expects to help more than 55,000 families across its service territory over the next four years through Shield of Caring.
In 2022, Shield of Caring, combined with the Nicor Gas Sharing and Energy Aide programs, provided more than $2.1 million in bill payment assistance grants.
To learn more about these programs, visit nicorgas.com/energyassistanceinfo.