May 23, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Reliant Gives Returns: A 2nd Cup Receives $100,000 to Help Fight Human Trafficking in Houston

Houston-based coffee shop, A 2nd Cup, is the headquarters for a nonprofit that raises awareness of human trafficking in Houston and supports its survivors – one cup of coffee at a time. Today the nonprofit was surprised by Reliant employees and volunteers with a $100,000 donation after receiving the most votes during Reliant Gives, a charitable giving program that involves a public-voting campaign.

“We are so grateful to the Reliant employees who nominated us to participate in Reliant Gives and our incredible supporters who voted for us to receive this game-changing donation,” said Erica Raggett, founder and executive director, A 2nd Cup. “Reliant is known throughout the community for giving and helping others, and this donation will support those rebuilding their lives after being trapped in modern-day slavery. This generous donation will enable us to launch a holistic coffee and culinary work program for human trafficking survivors looking for employment, providing both soft skills from resume writing and interview techniques to specific barista, roasting and culinary skills.”

A 2nd Cup, established in 2012, takes a unique approach to support the fight against human trafficking, a largely overlooked issue in Houston. The organization’s coffee shop profits help develop resources and support aftercare solutions for survivors, including counseling, mentoring, work-experience and education. It’s coffee – with a cause. For more information or to get involved, visit a2ndcup.com.

Reliant Gives, which launched in 2016, puts the power of nonprofit advocacy in the hands of the public, letting people vote to direct the company’s charitable giving to three Texas charities nominated by employees.

“We designed the Reliant Gives program as a way for our employees and the public to have an opportunity to support the causes they are passionate about,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president, Reliant. “Along the way, we realized we created something truly remarkable – a platform for anyone, anywhere to make a difference in communities across Texas with just one click. Our congratulations to the three nonprofits, and we look forward to another round of the program later this year.”

The two additional Reliant Gives recipients were Girlstart, a nonprofit that increases girls' interest and engagement in STEM through innovative education programs across Texas, and Southwest Transplant Alliance, a Dallas nonprofit that saves lives by recovering organs and tissue for people awaiting lifesaving transplants. The organizations received a $10,000 and $5,000 donation, respectively, based on public vote totals.

The checks were presented as part of positiveNRG Week, a week designated by Reliant’s parent company NRG for charitable giving and volunteerism across the country. Over the past decade, as part of this effort, Reliant employees have volunteered tens of thousands of hours at nonprofit organizations across Texas. This week, Reliant employees are supporting all three Reliant Gives nominees and a number of other organizations, including:

  • American Heart Association
  • Austin Animal Center
  • Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos
  • Dress for Success Houston
  • Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels
  • Galveston Bay Foundation
  • Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
  • Hermann Park Conservancy
  • Houston Area Women’s Center
  • Houston Food Bank
  • Houston Zoo
  • March of Dimes Houston
  • Metrocrest Services
  • Operation Kindness
  • Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
  • Snowdrop Foundation
  • Urban Harvest

To learn more about the inspiring organizations supported by Reliant Gives in 2016, read the Reliant Gives Community Impact Report.

About Reliant, an NRG company

Reliant brings electricity, smart energy solutions and home 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 companies, including Reliant, deliver electricity and home security services and serve almost 3 million customers in 10 states and the District of Columbia. NRG retail brands collectively 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 Twitter @ReliantEnergy. PUCT Certificate #10007.