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PRINCETON, N.J.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--More than 1,000 employees of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) and its subsidiary companies took time away from their regular job duties to perform volunteer work on NRG Global Giving Day. This annual event, now in its fifth year, provides more than 5,000 hours of apeople powera from NRG to help various charitable organizations in communities across the country.

"We at NRG view Global Giving Day as the day we get to show our communities the best of who we are as neighbors"

In addition to the extra helping hands from NRG employees today, each qualifying organization can apply to receive a $2,000 donation from NRG Global Giving.

aWe at NRG view Global Giving Day as the day we get to show our communities the best of who we are as neighbors,a said Meredith Moore, Senior Vice President of Communications and head of NRGas charitable initiatives. aOur commitment is about more than funding the organizations we work with across Americaa"itas also about making an investment of time and sweat equity.a

During todayas NRG Global Giving Day, about 20% of NRGas nationwide workforce mobilized to volunteer at many local charitable and community-based organizations and perform a variety of activities that help build stronger, healthier communities. Some examples of this yearas employee outreach include:

Northeast

• In Trenton, N.J., performing interior restoration work along with other facilities upgrades at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Trenton and Mercer County.
• Helping first-grade students from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to improve their reading skills at Drew Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pa.
• In Princeton, N.J. and Washington D.C., recording spoken-word books at Learning Ally that are used by the blind and dyslexic.
• In New York, working on an eco-trail rehabilitation program in the William B. Davis Wildlife Refuge for the Museum of Staten Island.
• Planting trees and hanging employee-made birdhouses around Civil War-era grave sites in Harrisburg Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Texas

• In Houston and Dallas, packing food boxes and preparing meals at the Houston Food Bank and at the North Texas Food Bank.
• Cleaning part of the Padre Island Sea Shore with Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel.
• Clearing overgrowth and restoring historic Olivewood Cemetery, the second-oldest African-American cemetery in Houston.
• Making minor building repairs, painting and landscaping at Help House, a residential facility owned by the AIDS Foundation of Houston, which provides housing and services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Performing maintenance on buildings and bridges at Fort Boggy State Park in Leon County.

California

• Processing incoming donations at the San Diego Food Bank.

Louisiana

• Conducting CPR/first aid classes to employees of the Pointe Coupee Parish Public Library.
• Painting dugouts and helping with office work at False River Academy and Rougon Elementary in Pointe Coupee Parish.

NRG Global Giving Day is part of a larger employee-led NRG Global Giving corporate responsibility program. In 2011 the Company donated $4.6 million to 362 organizations and matched more than 1,000 employee donations. Those donations and financial grants go to non-profit organizations that improve the communities where NRG employees live and work.

About NRG

NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. A Fortune 500 company, NRG is a pioneer in developing cleaner and smarter energy choices for our customers: whether as one of the largest solar power developers in the country, or by building the first privately funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure or by giving customers the latest smart energy solutions to better manage their energy use. Our diverse power generating facilities can support more than 20 million homes and our retail electricity providers a" Reliant, Green Mountain Energy Company and Energy Plus a" serve more than two million customers. More information is available at [ www.nrgenergy.com ].