— “Plastic
Free Sea Art Contest” honors
Earth Day and invites
local children to create artwork from plastics and recyclable material found on
the shore—
HOUSTON – April 22, 2021 – In honor of Earth Day as
thousands of visitors get ready to spend summer along Texas’ iconic beaches, Reliant
is partnering with the Texas State Aquarium to highlight the impact trash and
debris have on the Gulf coast and marine life. The “Plastic Free Sea Art
Contest” is a new competition featuring artwork made by local children from
single-use plastic and other recycled material gathered from Corpus Christi-area
beaches.
Kicking off on Earth
Day, April 22, Reliant and the Aquarium are inviting children under 12 years
old to participate in a virtual art contest showcasing artwork made from
material collected from their local beaches. The winner will receive four
admission tickets to the Aquarium, a plush from the gift shop and the artwork
will be displayed as part of the “Washed up Texas” installation at the
Texas State Aquarium until September 2021. Reliant will also award $2,000 to
the winning student’s school.
“We are honored to be a part of a fun, educational event
with the Texas State Aquarium, an organization we have loved supporting over
the years,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of Reliant. “Partnering with
the Aquarium to help the next generation of Texans learn to care for the Gulf
coast and marine life through this creative initiative will make a lasting
impact on our children, families and the community at large.”
It has been estimated
that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, and this event
is designed to highlight the devastating effects of marine debris in Texas
oceans while promoting the steps community members can take to protect the
environment. The Texas State Aquarium regularly features exhibits showcasing
the urgency of the situation and this event will allow children to participate
and feel the impact they can have on a small scale.
"We're grateful
to Reliant for encouraging students across the Coastal Bend area to engage in
unique conservation opportunities," said Tom Schmid, Aquarium president and
chief executive officer. "As a wildlife conservation-based organization,
it's vital that we not just inspire our students to learn about our oceans, but
that we take a direct role in ensuring they take action in the care to have a
future in their natural habitat's survival."
The art contest will open April 22 and close May 24.
To qualify for the contest, applicants must be 12 years or younger and live in
San Patricio or Nueces Counties. Submitted
artwork must be made from recycled materials and smaller than 24 inches by 24
inches. A photograph of the artwork will need to be submitted through the Texas
State Aquarium website for consideration with the artist’s name, age, school
they will attend in the fall, parents’ name, contact number and list of
materials used. The finalists and winners will be
announced via social media on June 1.
For more information
about the contest and how to sign up, visit texasstateaquarium.org/become-a-beach-ball-sponsor-2/artcontest/
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About The Texas State
Aquarium
(TSA), the Official Aquarium of the State of Texas, is a
private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) institution that is fully accredited by the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and
Aquariums. Its mission is to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation
for our seas and support wildlife conservation. TSA, the largest Aquarium in
Texas, cares for over 4,000 animals and has been named the #4 Aquarium in North
American by USA Today. Learn more attexasstateaquarium.org.
About Reliant, an NRG
Company
Reliant powers,
protects and simplifies life by bringing electricity, security and related
services to homes and businesses across Texas. Serving customers and the
community is at the core of what we do, and the company is recognized
nationally for outstanding customer experience. Reliant is part of NRG, a
Fortune 500 company that creates value by generating electricity and providing
energy solutions to more than 3.5 million residential and commercial customers
across the U.S. and Canada. NRG’s competitive residential electricity business,
which includes Reliant, is one of the largest in the country. For more
information about Reliant, visit reliant.com and connect
with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and Twitter or
Instagram @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate
#10007.