HAMMOND, Ind. - Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) employees in the Hammond area are hosting its ninth annual Gift of Warmth fund-raiser on July 8-9. The Gift of Warmth is a non-profit program that helps qualifying families throughout northwest Indiana pay their winter utility bills.

The fund-raiser will be held outside the NIPSCO Hammond Office at 1313 167th Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Along with bratwurst and beverages, everyone will be able to participate in the Gift of Warmth raffle. Raffle prizes include a NIPSCO natural gas grill, four White Sox tickets with parking passes, fresh Maine lobster from Bay State Gas, a subsidiary of NiSource, two $100 savings bond from Mercantile Bank and Bank Calumet, $50 gift certificate from Albert's jewelers, a NIPSCO water heater, 1999 McDonald's International Bears, complete set of McDonald's 1999 Teenie Beanies, train sets, NIPSCO Extra Service Protection (ESP) certificate and several other prizes from local merchants.

Each dollar raised from the fund-raiser will be matched by NiSource, Inc. and will be distributed by several social service agencies in the spring.

"With matching funds from NiSource, last year we raised over $8,000. This year our goal is to raise $10,000," said Dave Ryan, NIPSCO public affairs manager.

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource, is a regulated utility that provides natural gas to nearly 700,000 customers and electricity to 416,000 customers across the northern third of Indiana. NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state of Indiana. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com.