HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Reliant customers and employees come together each April to raise funds for March of Dimes to support programs aimed at improving the health of babies and pregnant mothers and preventing premature births, the top cause of death for babies. Reliant makes it easy for customers to support the organization by choosing an electricity plan that benefits March of Dimes, and company employees are able to join a team for the March for Babies walk or participate in numerous company fundraisers and raffles to raise money for the organization.
The Reliant BabyPower 12 electricity plan includes a $100 donation to March of Dimes and a $100 bill credit. In 2015 alone, Reliant customers generated over $186,000 through the plan, and Reliant employees raised more than $170,000 for the March of Dimes Houston Chapter through the March for Babies walk.
“At Reliant, we care about our customers and the challenges they face each and every day. That is why we support causes like the March of Dimes that are working to improve the lives of children and families, which are both close to our hearts,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of NRG Retail and Reliant. Killinger served as the 2014 chair for the March for Babies walk in Houston, the largest in the country, and has a personal connection to the organization as a result of her son’s premature birth in 2003.
Every year, Reliant selects an employee family ambassador to represent those in the company who have been affected by premature birth. This year, Kyle and Emily Patrick are serving in this role. Five years ago, the Patrick’s twins were born premature at just 28 weeks old, weighing less than 3 pounds each. While spending nearly 100 days in the neonatal intensive-care unit, the family found hope and inspiration in positive stories from families supported by March of Dimes.
“Not only did March of Dimes provide the emotional support our family needed during that tough time, but the medicine that healed our son’s heart defect was a product of the organization’s research on premature birth,” said Kyle Patrick, operational specialist at Reliant. “Today I am fortunate to have two happy, healthy children and to have found my professional home at Reliant, a company that makes their employee’s families a top priority.”
Since 2002, Reliant employees have raised more than $1.6 million for March of Dimes, in addition to volunteering their personal time to host fundraisers or walk at the annual event. Members of Reliant leadership have also served as board members throughout the years. “Our employees embody the spirit of Reliant and actively give back to the communities where we live and work,” continued Killinger.
For more information on the Reliant BabyPower 12 plan, visit www.reliant.com/babypower. For more information about this year’s March for Babies, visit www.marchofdimes.com/texas.
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 and leading integrated competitive power company in the U.S. 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
