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WALL, N.J. – New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), is partnering with the American Heart Association to offer free blood pressure screenings at the Lakewood BlueClaws game on Monday, August 9, 2004. NJNG will promote heart health at the game as a sponsor of the 13th annual Heart Walk, an event that supports the American Heart Association’s mission to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. These diseases claim more than 28,500 lives in New Jersey every year.

Michele Campbell, Ph.D., the 2004 Monmouth County Heart Walk Survivor Ambassador, will throw out the first pitch as the BlueClaws battle the Capital City Bombers. Dr. Campbell, principal of St. Rose High School in Belmar, survived a heart attack in 1998 and has undergone various cardiac procedures.

“Staying healthy is one of the best things family members can do for each other,” said NJNG Chairman and CEO Laurence M. Downes, this year’s Monmouth County Chairman of the Monmouth Ocean Shoreline Heart Walk. “We understand the importance of being there, and we’re proud to partner with the American Heart Association to raise awareness and save lives by making these screenings available to help keep families healthy in our communities,” Mr. Downes said.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in four U.S. adults has high blood pressure. Nearly one-third are unaware of their condition because there are no symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. The only way to detect high blood pressure is to have it checked.

“By supporting our efforts to reach out to our communities, partners like NJNG are helping us advance toward our goal of reducing coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010,” said Richard M. Hodosh, M.D., a New Jersey neurosurgeon, president of the American Heart Association Heritage Affiliate serving New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey, and medical director, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute.

At the game, fans will be entertained by the antics of The Famous Chicken courtesy of njliving.com, the Web site for the NJR family of companies. There will be a drawing for a summer fun cooler complete with heart-healthy snacks, and seat cushions will be given to the first 2,000 fans. To purchase tickets, call the Lakewood BlueClaws box office at 732-901-7000 or visit www.lakewoodblueclaws.com.

The Monmouth Ocean Shoreline Heart Walk will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2004, on the Belmar boardwalk. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. To make a donation or form a team to walk with NJNG, visit njliving.com or call Kathy O’Connell, manager – customer advocacy and volunteerism, at 732-938-1074.

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) is the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), a Fortune 1000 company and a member of the Forbes Platinum 400. NJNG is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 450,000 customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Morris counties. This service area’s demographics and quality of life contribute greatly to NJNG’s growth. NJNG’s progress is a tribute to the dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make the company a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJNG’s Web site at njliving.com.