HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the Reliant Gives program awarded a $100,000 donation to the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC), a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence in their efforts to move their lives forward. The employee-nominated, community-chosen contribution marks the culmination of the new charitable-giving initiative from Reliant that puts the power of nonprofit advocacy in the hands of the public, letting people vote for the Texas charity they want to receive donations. The Reliant Gives program coincides with Reliant and NRG’s Global Giving Day, when hundreds of employees fan out across communities in Texas and 15 other states to provide volunteer services to nonprofit organizations.
“It’s an honor to be selected by our passionate supporters for this generous donation,” said Rebecca White, President and CEO of HAWC, the top Reliant Gives vote-getter. ”As a nonprofit, it’s wonderful to have a major business and community leader like Reliant believe in what we do day-in and day-out. We thank Reliant for this great opportunity and the public for their participation in the Reliant Gives program.”
“Programs like Reliant Gives are one of the things that make running a business in Texas so great. Giving is an important element of who we are as a company, and to be part of something that grows and nurtures the community we all share is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of NRG Retail and Reliant. “We are thrilled for the three winning nominees, and look forward to supporting more Texas nonprofits as the program continues.”
The two additional nonprofits that were nominated were RETREET, based in Dallas, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, receiving a $10,000 and $5,000 donation, respectively, based on their public vote totals. Employees in Texas volunteered during Reliant and NRG’s Global Giving Day to support all three nominees and a number of other organizations as well, including:
| -- American Heart Association | -- Junior Achievement | |||||
| -- Anahuac ISD | -- Leon County Economic Development Association | |||||
| -- Avenue Community Development Corporation | -- Metrocrest Services | |||||
| -- Dress for Success | -- Operation Kindness | |||||
| -- Fort Bend Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels | -- Rebuilding Together Houston | |||||
| -- Galveston Bay Foundation | -- Seven Loaves | |||||
| -- Interfaith Ministries | -- Trees for Houston | |||||
| -- Wesley Community Center | ||||||
The mission of the Reliant Gives program is to empower Reliant employees and the public to join together to help Texas communities. The first round of this inaugural program had Reliant employees nominate Texas nonprofits meaningful to them, with that initial group narrowed to three and then presented to the public for voting. Over 50,000 people cast votes, showing how deeply they care about nonprofit partners in the communities where Texans live and work, and helping set the stage for future rounds of the Reliant Gives program. In addition to the Reliant Gives program, Reliant supports local communities through volunteerism, charitable giving and partnerships with a variety of organizations, and in 2015 donated over $2.75 million to different causes.
About Reliant, an NRG company
Reliant brings electricity, smart energy solutions and energy services to business and residential customers across Texas. Reliant is part of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), a Fortune 200 company that is at the forefront of changing how people think about, buy and use energy. Backed by a diverse portfolio of nearly 140 power generating facilities that can support millions of homes and businesses nationwide, NRG’s retail businesses, including Reliant, serve almost 3 million customers in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, NRG’s retail brands are the largest providers of electricity in Texas. For more information about Reliant products and services, please visit reliant.com and connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate #10007
