More than 9,400 fans poured in to Dr Pepper Ballpark today to cheer on the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth annual Reliant Home Run Derby. Not only was it the largest crowd in the charity competition’s history, but Reliant’s donation amount also topped records, giving back more than $100,000 to nonprofits across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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The Dallas Cowboys join Reliant to present $58,000 to The Salvation Army Arlington at the eighth annual Reliant Home Run Derby Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in Frisco, Texas. The event brought 9,414 fans out to cheer on the Cowboys as they aimed for the fences. (Brandon Wade/AP Images for Reliant)

“After eight successful Reliant Home Run Derby events, it’s safe to say the friendly competition has reached new heights,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of Reliant. “At Reliant, we do everything with our customers and communities in mind, from affordable electricity plans and innovative energy management tools to giving back in a big way to positively impact the communities we serve. We are excited to continue this fun tradition with the Dallas Cowboys.”

The lively atmosphere gave fans a chance to see their favorite players in action during the offseason. The Cowboys responded by putting power behind their bats, raising a total of $58,000 for the Gene and Jerry Jones North Texas Youth Education Town of the Salvation Army Arlington. Over the course of eight years, the event has raised more than $430,000 for various local charities.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was crowned the 2019 Reliant Home Run Derby champion, hitting a total of five home runs, raising $9,300.

Reliant also donated $1,000 to each participating Cowboys’ charity partner of choice. The roster included:

• Amari Cooper
• Ezekiel Elliott
• Travis Frederick
• Jeff Heath
• Sean Lee
• Zack Martin
• Dak Prescott
• Jaylon Smith
• Tyron Smith
• Jason Witten
• Coach Jason Garrett served as Honorary Manager

Rowdy, the Cowboys mascot, pumped up the crowd, and Cowboys rookies shagged balls in the outfield and cheered on the veterans with the youth from the Salvation Army. The national anthem was performed by the Cowboys’ Rhythm & Blue Drumline Squad. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the Salvation Army’s mascot, Captain Kettle, also joined the fun.

“Our players look forward to partnering with Reliant on this event every year, but today’s derby was extra special thanks to the thousands of fans in attendance,” said Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer, Dallas Cowboys. “It’s always a great day when our players can use their competitive spirit and skills to help raise funds for local nonprofits.”

Giving Back across Dallas-Fort Worth

Before the Cowboys took their turn at the plate, Reliant brought together Dallas-Fort Worth media personalities to showcase their own batting skills and raise money for their charity of choice. A combined $31,100 was raised for 10 nonprofits across the area. The lineup and their chosen nonprofits included:

• RJ Choppy, 105.3 FM The Fan on behalf of Compassion of Christ Ministries
• Pat Doney, KXAS-TV (NBC) on behalf of Team Hoyt Texas
• Clarence Hill, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on behalf of See it Through Foundation
• Lindsey Juarez, Community Impact Newspaper on behalf of The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center
• Jennifer McDaniel, Dallas Moms Blog on behalf of Team Connor Cancer Foundation
• Erik Mora, KXTX-TV (Telemundo) on behalf of Little Things Matter
• Shannon Murray, KDFW-TV (Fox) on behalf of Girls on the Run DFW
• Kyle Roberts, WFAA-TV (ABC) on behalf of Frisco FastPacs
• Kristi Scales, Dallas Cowboys Radio Network on behalf of Autism Speaks
• Joe Trahan, WFAA-TV (ABC) on behalf of Northern Texas PGA Foundation

Reliant supports local communities through volunteerism, charitable giving and partnerships with a variety of organizations. In 2018, over $3 million was donated to different Reliant-sponsored causes with employees giving more than 8,000 volunteer hours to over 150 community programs across Texas.

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.

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