$100,000 Donation to Operation Kindness Will Support Hundreds of Homeless Animals

Every animal that arrives at Operation Kindness, the original and largest no-kill animal shelter in North Texas, receives medical care and assistance so they can easily be placed in a safe and loving home. Texans rely on Operation Kindness to save and find homes for thousands of homeless cats and dogs each year. And when Hurricane Harvey hit Texas at the end of August, the organization quickly mobilized its resources to help animals displaced by the storm.

These efforts and more from Operation Kindness have won the hearts and support from the public during this round of Reliant Gives, with the shelter earning the most public votes during the week-long online voting period. Today, the holidays became very merry and bright for Operation Kindness when Reliant employee volunteers surprised the organization with a $100,000 donation.

“During this special season of joy and peace, we are delighted to be able to support organizations that make such a positive impact in our local communities,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president, Reliant. “We are thrilled with the difference our Reliant Gives donations will make for many in Texas – for both people and pets as well!”

“Reliant’s generous gift will be used to provide medicine, surgeries, tests and care to hundreds more animals this next year. Our wonderful supporters enjoyed the ’get out the vote’ campaign and rallied with events like the voting-with-puppies party and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra pop-up concert. We hope Reliant and their employees know that thanks to them, many lives will be saved and a lot more happiness will happen for pets and the humans who adopt them,” said Jim Hanophy, chief executive officer, Operation Kindness.

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

Final Voting Results:

  • $100,000: Operation Kindness is North Texas’ original and largest no-kill animal shelter and serves daily as the “go-to” facility for Texas municipal and rescue partners who run out of space or have animals in need of medical services. Every animal that arrives at Operation Kindness receives medical care, which ranges from routine to advanced. Care takes the form of life-saving medicines, therapies, surgeries, behavior training, birthing care and adoption. If quality of life can be preserved, any condition is treated. The Reliant Gives donation of $100,000 would mean the difference between life and euthanasia for thousands of homeless animals.
  • $20,000: Casa de Esperanza is a safe place for Houston’s children in crisis caused by abuse, neglect or the effects of HIV. The organization provides residential care and coordinates medical and psychological services tailored to the needs of each child. Casa de Esperanza’s goal is to return physically and emotionally healthy children to stabilized homes where caregivers can safely provide daily needs. The Reliant Gives donation of $20,000 will allow Casa de Esperanza to serve even more children in the Houston area, recruit new volunteer foster parents and expand comprehensive services.
  • $10,000: Kids' Meals delivers free, healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children. Each weekday, the organization provides approximately 2,700 meals to children under age five, who are impacted by hunger and food insecurity. These children are at home during the day, yearning for food that parents often can’t provide, while their older siblings are fed at school. Lunches are prepared and delivered by Kids’ Meals for a total cost of less than $2 a day per child, making the $10,000 Reliant Gives donation go a long way toward feeding the more than 88,000 hungry preschoolers in Houston.

Reliant Gives has now donated $590,000 to 15 deserving nonprofits across the state of Texas. In addition, Reliant supports local communities through volunteerism, charitable giving and partnerships and in 2016 donated over $1.3 million to different causes. Learn more about the Reliant Gives program and view previous winners.

About Reliant, an NRG company

Reliant powers, protects and simplifies life by bringing electricity, smart energy solutions, residential services and security to homes and businesses across Texas. Serving customers and the community is at the core of what we do. Reliant is part of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), a Fortune 500 company that creates value through best-in-class operations and reliable and efficient electric generation. Backed by a diverse portfolio of power generating facilities, NRG’s retail companies, including Reliant, power 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, please visit reliant.com and connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and Twitter @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate #10007.