ATLANTA, March 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aaron's, Inc.
(NYSE: AAN), the lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales
and lease ownership of furniture, consumer electronics, home
appliances and accessories, will concentrate its giving efforts
during Aaron's National Managers Meeting where 2,000 managers are
joining forces with local organizations in Washington D.C. to give back. The giving
efforts kicked off with a donation event where Aaron's donated
furniture to 28 apartments for families who have experienced
homelessness. This effort supports Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's efforts to ensure safe,
dignified housing for all Washingtonians and end homelessness in
the District of Columbia.
"Aaron's believes that caring starts with respect -- this is one
of our Company's guiding principles," said John Robinson, Aaron's Chief Executive Officer.
"We respect the struggles that many families have today as they try
to provide for their children and create a safe and stable home
environment. We believe we are making a difference by giving back
to these families and neighborhoods here in D.C. this week, and
across the country throughout the year through our Aaron's Gives
programs."
Through Aaron's Gives programs, which include the Aaron's
Foundation, Inc. and Aaron's Community Outreach Programs, Aaron's
gave $2.8 million to communities
across the nation in 2015. The efforts by Aaron's associates at the
annual National Managers Meeting highlights a week of service by
the Company to D.C.-area communities in need. More than 2,000
Aaron's store managers will participate in several community
outreach activities while in the nation's capital, making this the
eighth year in a row that Aaron's associates will transform the
annual Aaron's National Managers Meeting into a city-wide giving
initiative.
Across the District of Columbia
this week, Aaron's is investing $500,000 in product, monetary donations and
volunteer hours.
At Aaron's first community outreach event today, 100 Aaron's
associates installed more than $60,000 worth of new living room and bedroom
furniture in units at the District of
Columbia-backed "Jobs Have Priority" program at 2601 Naylor
Road on the city's southeast side. The program provides
apartment-style shelter for families who have experienced
homelessness, many of which are single-parent households caring for
two to three young children. Many have at least one family member
with a mental, developmental or physical disability.
"I want to thank Aaron's for its generous support of our
residents, our community and Jobs Have Priority," said Mayor
Bowser, who has championed bold efforts to end homelessness in the
District of Columbia. "Every
single resident in our city deserves a safe and dignified home, and
Aaron's is supporting us in achieving this goal by supplying
high-quality furniture for families."
Each of the 28 units received leather sofas and love seats,
cocktail tables and bedroom chests from Aaron's.
"We're honored to support the 'Jobs Have Priorities' program and
everything it stands for – families with safe housing, employment
opportunities and access to supportive services are the tools they
need to become self-sufficient," said Robert Kamerschen, Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer of Aaron's, Inc..
"This donation and our efforts across D.C. demonstrate a civic
commitment that began with our founding more than 60 years ago and
endures today thanks to the dedication and big hearts of our
associates."
Aaron's associates will fan out this week across D.C., where
they will:
- Partner with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to refurbish three
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater
Washington. These clean-up projects are an outgrowth of
Aaron's 3-year, $5 million commitment
to Boys & Girls Clubs of America that began last year. The
makeovers will include painting, installing furniture, appliances,
TVs, sound and gaming systems, mulching and repairing fences to
provide safe and welcoming spaces for D.C.-area youth.
- Raise money for the Fisher House Foundation, which provides
housing at no cost for military families whose loved ones are
receiving treatment, and Stillbrave Childhood Cancer Foundation,
which provides non-medical, supportive care to children with
cancer, and their families.
- Donate blood to INOVA Blood Donor Services.
- Register for Be the Match, the national bone marrow donor
program.
- Provide a scholarship to the Congressional Black Caucus
Foundation to students who demonstrate leadership ability through
exemplary community service and academic talent.
Additionally, Aaron's will attempt on Tuesday to break the
Guinness World Record for the "Largest Human Mattress Dominoes" by
toppling 1,200 mattresses. The current record is 1,150. Once the
record is shattered, all 1,200 mattresses will be donated to A
Wider Circle, an organization focused on ending individual and
family poverty, and to the Sasha Bruce and Wanda Alston youth homeless shelters.
To see photos of Aaron's Gives programs that highlight the
efforts of Aaron's associates who are giving back throughout the
year, visit www.AaronsGives.com.
About Aaron's, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leader
in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of
furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories,
and currently has more than 2,000 Company-operated and franchised
stores in 47 states and Canada. Progressive Leasing, a
leading virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase
solutions through approximately 16,000 retail locations in 46
states. Dent-A-Med, Inc., d/b/a the HELPcard®, is offered through
over 1,400 locations and provides a variety of second-look credit
products that are originated through a federally insured
bank. Aaron's was founded in 1955, has been publicly traded
since 1982 and owns the Aarons.com, ShopHomeSmart.com,
ProgLeasing.com, and HELPcard.com brands. For more information,
visit www.aarons.com.
About "Jobs Have Priority"
The "Jobs Have Priority"
(http://www.jobshavepriority.org) program helps homeless
individuals achieve self-sufficiency through training, employment
services and critical support services. The program provides
critical support services, which eliminate barriers that are often
the final piece to successfully moving a homeless individual from
dependency to self-sufficiency. In 2015, the program helped 418 JHP
clients secure jobs and 316 individuals move into permanent
housing.
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SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.