FRISCO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dallas Cowboys knocked it out of the park at the 11th annual Reliant Home Run Derby benefiting The Salvation Army of North Texas. Thousands of fans came out to Riders Field in Frisco to cheer on the Cowboys as they traded footballs for baseballs during this fun and friendly competition for a good cause. The charity event resulted in Reliant donating $145,400 to 23 North Texas nonprofits, bringing the total community impact to $984,000 since the event began in 2013.
“At Reliant, being a positive force in the communities we serve is an important part of who we are and what we stand for,” said Andrea Russell, senior vice president, Reliant. “We look forward to the Reliant Home Run Derby each year because it’s such a fun event for Cowboys fans that directly supports vital programs in North Texas. We are thrilled to continue this event with the Dallas Cowboys. Together, we are building a stronger community, one home run at a time.”
Cowboys players took their turns on the diamond, with each hit and home run earning a donation from Reliant, raising a total of $104,900 to benefit The Salvation Army. Cowboys Punter Bryan Anger was named the 2024 Reliant Home Run Derby Champion with $21,200 raised and 17 home runs. The full Dallas Cowboys lineup included:
- Bryan Anger
- Brandon Aubrey
- DaRon Bland
- Brandin Cooks
- Ezekiel Elliott
- Jake Ferguson
- Eric Kendricks
- Dak Prescott
- Jalen Tolbert
- Sam Williams
Majors Paul and Dawn McFarland and more than 150 local students involved with The Salvation Army attended the event. One deserving student from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Youth Education Town also earned the opportunity to throw out the first pitch to a Cowboys player. The event featured appearances from mascots Hugo (Reliant), Rowdy (Cowboys) and Shieldy (The Salvation Army). The national anthem was performed by The Salvation Army Band, while the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Chowboyz also joined in the fun.
“The power of sports makes a positive impact in our communities,” said Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer, Dallas Cowboys. “The Reliant Home Run Derby brings us together to swing for the fence and raise funds for a good cause. Every hit and home run helps make a difference in our community and that’s a win for all.”
Reliant Media League
Before the Cowboys stepped up to the plate, Reliant invited local media to try their hand at bat for a good cause. The eighth annual Reliant Media League featured 12 North Texas reporters from local TV, radio, print and online outlets. Together they raised a total of $30,500 for local nonprofits. The lineup and their charities included:
- Bri Amaranthus from Sports Illustrated supporting Odighizuwa Foundation
- Paige Ellenberger from FOX 4 supporting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
- Sean Giggy from WFAA supporting American Cancer Society
- Tom Gribble from New Country 96.3/Hawkeye in the Morning supporting the American Diabetes Association
- Clarence Hill from Fort Worth Star-Telegram supporting See It Through Charities
- Adriana López from NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 supporting Austin Street Center
- Mark “Hawkeye” Louis from New Country 96.3/Hawkeye in the Morning supporting Cook Children's Health Foundation
- Erik Mora from Telemundo 39 supporting Little Things Matter
- Kellie Rasberry from The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show supporting Kidd’s Kids
- Kyle Roberts from WFAA supporting ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship
- Madison Sawyer from CBS Texas 11 supporting the Tara Sawyer Foundation
- Kyle Youmans from Dallas Cowboys TV supporting Speedway Children's Charities
Pat Doney from NBC 5 supporting Team Hoyt Texas served as the Reliant Media League emcee.
Reliant supports local communities through volunteerism, charitable giving and collaboration with a variety of organizations throughout the year. In 2023, Reliant donated more than $4.8 million to causes across Texas, with employees giving more than 4,000 volunteer hours to over 200 community programs.
About Reliant, an NRG Company
Reliant makes power personal - that's why homes and businesses trust Reliant not only as a provider of electricity, but also as a pillar of support in the communities we serve. From a best-in-class app to breakthrough innovations, Reliant is recognized nationally for outstanding customer service and as the leader in the evolving energy space with offerings that span from EV solutions to solar insights to smart home experiences. As part of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 energy and home services company, our purpose is to power a brighter future together, one that is safe, smart and sustainable. For more information about Reliant, visit reliant.com and connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and X or Instagram @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate #10007.
