HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2013

The 2014 March for Babies will take place April 27, 2014, at the University of Houston. Reliant has signed on as the presenting sponsor for Houston’s 2014 walk – the largest in the country. The walk brings together families, companies and volunteers to raise money to support lifesaving research, community education programs and advocacy efforts that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies and give babies a strong, healthy start in life.

The announcement of Killinger’s role and Reliant’s major sponsorship comes during National Prematurity Awareness Month, when March of Dimes brings awareness to the seriousness of premature birth, the lifelong impacts and prevention opportunities. Every year, more than half a million babies are born too soon in the U.S., almost 51,000 of them in Texas.

Killinger has served on the board of directors for the March of Dimes Houston Division since 2011. She brings her extensive skills as Reliant’s president and a personal understanding of the challenges families face when a baby arrives too early or faces life-threatening complications.

"Ten years ago, my world was tossed upside down when my son was born prematurely with numerous complications with his heart, lungs and kidneys requiring him to spend six weeks in the NICU/Level 2 Nursery," said Killinger. "Thankfully, he survived and today is sweet spirited, healthy and full of joy. Through this journey, I experienced firsthand the suffering that the March of Dimes intends to eliminate, and as a result, I am honored to lead this year’s March for Babies to help more families bring healthy babies into the world and to care for those who arrive early. The March of Dimes mission is so important to the wellbeing of our community."

The March for Babies is the Houston division’s biggest fundraising event of the year. In 2013, more than $3.3 million was raised to support research and programs that help mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies and prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

"We are honored that Elizabeth will bring her passion and talents to this year’s March for Babies, and for her continued support for our organization’s work," said Darcie Wells, state director, Texas Chapter of the March of Dimes. "Elizabeth understands what our March of Dimes families go through, and it really means a lot to us that she is such an active participant in our organization. Success in the coming year couldn’t happen without support from our business community, including Reliant, and leaders like Elizabeth.

"We also couldn’t be more pleased that Reliant stepped up as presenting sponsor this year," Wells continued. "Reliant and its employees have demonstrated a real commitment to March of Dimes over the years, donating more than $1.1 million since 2002."

Local residents can sign up as an individual or a team at

For more information about this year’s March for Babies, visit www.marchofdimes.com/texas.

About Reliant

Reliant provides electricity, smart energy solutions, and energy services to business and residential customers across Texas. Reliant is part of NRG (NYSE: NRG), a Fortune 500 company that is at the forefront of changing how people think about, buy and use energy. Backed by a diverse portfolio of about 100 power generating facilities that can support over 40 million homes nationwide, NRG’s retail businesses, including Reliant, collectively comprise Texas’ largest retail energy provider and serve more than 2 million customers in 10 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about Reliant products and services, please visit www.reliant.com. Connect with Reliant on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy.

About March of Dimes

With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. About 4 million babies are born in the United States each year, and the March of Dimes helps each and every one through 75 years of research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Contacts:

Jessica Putallaz

March of Dimes

713.964.5436

Melissa Hensley

Reliant

713.537.3099