Company's triple match brings $63,720 for Haiti

Moments after news broke of the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, NRG Energy’s corporate inbox was flooded with requests from concerned employees: “How can we help? What is NRG going to do? How can I give?”

Needing to respond quickly, NRG did fast research through the Clinton Global Initiative to find a partner organization that could bring immediate relief to Haiti. They chose us — Mercy Corps — for our proven ability to mobilize quickly and bring emergency relief with an eye to longer-term development efforts.

Some of the NRG team stands holding the Haitian flag. Photo: courtesy of NRG

In less than five days, NRG had set up a page for Haiti on their corporate giving website to receive donations. In addition to the online drive, employees conducted fundraising “spinoff” events — such as sandwich sales and walks — to help raise even more. NRG employees knew that every penny raised would make an even bigger impact because of the Company’s unique triple match program.

CEO David Crane’s idea to do a Company triple match was inspired by employee fundraising for victims of Hurricane Katrina and it is something they’ve repeated for every emergency response they’ve fundraised for. The result? $63,720 for Mercy Corps’ humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

As a corporation, NRG has a strong philanthropic bent and its employees are especially generous with their time and money. In the past five years, NRG has provided millions of dollars to organizations and charities that have a direct impact on the lives of people in communities where NRG does business. According to NRG, these group giving efforts are “an extremely unifying activity” — and besides, it’s just the “right thing to do.”