CNG announces diversity awareness grant recipients

Hartford, CT, January 15, 2003 - Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) has awarded grants to 15 schools and community organizations for projects promoting diversity within its service area. Recipients of the 2002 grant awards were:

• The Learning Corridor Corporation, Hartford, for teaching children about diversity issues.
• Bulkeley High School, Hartford, for providing the opportunity for students to learn about different cultural art forms.
• King Philip Middle School, West Hartford, for its curriculum that addresses real-life issues and integrates students from neighboring urban and suburban schools.
• New Britain Conversations on Race, for conducting community projects that focus on religious differences and to expand its informational newsletter which is published in three languages.
• Bennett Middle School, Manchester, for its program to raise awareness of diversity within the school's population.
• First Academy School, Bloomfield, which provides students with the opportunity to attend and review local theater and arts performances.
• Full Gospel Interdenominational Church, Manchester, for its Friday evening youth program.
• Willowbrook Early Childhood Center, East Hartford, for its Peacemaking Skills for Little Kids program.
• The Bridge Family Center, West Hartford, for its activities that target the emerging needs of children, youth and families.
• Greenwich ARC Padres Abriendo Puertas, whose mission is to build community support for people with special needs and their families.
• Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, which helps students identify traditional cultural values and evaluate causes of conflict among diverse groups.
• The Village for Families and Children, Inc., Hartford, for its program which provides an understanding in the dynamics of race, class and gender ethnicity and sexual orientation.
• St. Joseph College, West Hartford, for its School for Young Children that provides a program of interaction with senior citizens.
• Miss Porter's School, Farmington, for its program to research and study significant people in Connecticut history.
• Middlesex Consortium, East Hampton, for its diversity appreciation program.
• This is the second year that CNG awarded grants to nonprofit agencies and school programs for the development of projects and activities that foster an appreciation of ethnic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic diversity and also enhance the lives of those with special needs.

Editor's Note: Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation is a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation (NYSE: EAS). CNG provides natural gas service to approximately 155,000 customers in 21 municipalities in the greater Hartford and New Britain areas and Greenwich. Energy East is a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast. Energy East is a leader in promoting competition and is committed to profitably growing its energy infrastructure. Energy East serves 2 million customers (1.4 million electricity and 600,000 natural gas) in upstate New York and New England

Contact:
Robert Brennan
Director, Public Affairs
Connecticut Natural Gas/Southern Conn. Gas
(203) 795-7739
rbrennan@soconngas.com