New Jersey Resources Offers Preview of Heart Gallery of New Jersey; Tr

    Business Editors

    WALL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2005--New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) announced today that the company's Wall headquarters is hosting the first preview of the Heart Gallery of New Jersey. The traveling photography exhibit features portraits of the state's foster children who are eligible for adoption to help connect them with permanent homes.
    "It is essential that we do everything possible to ensure our children have safe and loving homes, as a reliable partner with other individuals and organizations who share our mission," said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. "I can't think of anything more worthwhile or important to our future than our children's well-being."
    The children featured in the Heart Gallery of New Jersey - who are frequently older, part of a group of siblings or have special needs - are currently living in foster care under the supervision of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. Photographers in New York and New Jersey donated their time to capture the spirit of each child in the portraits for the exhibit, which will tour the state to help the children find adoptive families.
    "The Heart Gallery of New Jersey is an extraordinary effort that reflects the dedication of all those involved and their commitment to making a difference," Commissioner James Davy of the New Jersey Department of Human Services said. "The support provided by projects like Heart Gallery of New Jersey and NJR's leadership on behalf of children makes an important contribution as we strive to create a model program for children and families in our state."
    The gallery preview is part of NJR's recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention month in April, including an awareness program and distribution of "Safe Child" bracelets for employees. NJR is a sponsor of the Heart Gallery of New Jersey through the company's continuing efforts to promote the well-being of children.
    In March, NJR was named a 2005 Corporate Friend of Children as one of only four companies honored nationwide by the Child Welfare League of America. NJR also was acknowledged by the New Jersey Child Assault Prevention network in early April. The awards recognized NJR's commitment to improving the lives of children, including the company's role in establishing the Safe Child Consortium, a group of New Jersey business and foundation leaders helping to advance the state's efforts to reform the child welfare system.
    Mr. Downes joins Commissioner Davy as a co-chairman of the Safe Child Consortium, which supports the implementation of New Jersey's Child Welfare Reform Plan, a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families. NJR helped establish the consortium with a $500,000 contribution and has assisted in raising $200,000 in additional funds. Through the Safe Child Fund of New Jersey, the consortium provides grants to community programs and other organizations across the state to help prevent child abuse.
    NJR's commitment to children includes educational initiatives through the Energy for Education program to motivate students and enhance lifelong learning opportunities. Among these efforts is the Project Venture Mentoring program, which brings together urban middle school students and employees to provide positive role models and offer a glimpse of what the future may hold. Another initiative, the Job Shadowing program, builds essential skills for tomorrow's workforce. NJR is also a sponsor of the Anytown Program by the National Conference on Community and Justice, which teaches young people the value and importance of diversity. NJR's efforts in the community include supporting numerous organizations that benefit children and families to enhance present and future generations' quality of life.
    The preview of the Heart Gallery of New Jersey at NJR is open to the public through Friday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full exhibit is scheduled to open for the public June 12 at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. For additional information, visit www.heartgallerynj.com or e-mail info@heartgallerynj.com.

    New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR), a Fortune 1000 company and a member of the Forbes Platinum 400, provides reliable retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. Its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 459,000 customers in central and northern New Jersey. Other major NJR subsidiaries include NJR Energy Services and NJR Home Services. NJR Energy Services is a leader in the unregulated energy services market, providing customer service and management of natural gas storage and capacity assets. NJR Home Services offers retail customers heating, air conditioning and appliance services. NJR's progress is a tribute to the more than 5,000 dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make NJR a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJR's Web site at njliving.com.

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CONTACT: For New Jersey Resources Roseanne Koberle, 732-938-1112 or Kip Jackson, 732-919-8071

KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS ENERGY UTILITIES SOURCE: New Jersey Resources

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