Deserving Single Mothers Surprised With Fully-Furnished HomesATLANTA, Nov. 22, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Aaron Rents, Inc., the nation's leader in the rental, sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, today announced the donation of four homes' worth of merchandise to families via the Warrick Dunn Foundation's Homes for the Holidays campaign.
Thanks to the work of the Foundation, four Atlanta families will spend Thanksgiving in their new homes fully furnished with everything, from furniture to appliances and electronics -- even a fully-stocked pantry complete with a holiday turkey. Atlanta Falcon Warrick Dunn established his charitable program called Homes for the Holidays back in 1997, in honor of his mother. Since then, the foundation has helped 64 families and 164 children receive new homes.
As part of the program, Warrick surprises every mother with a $5,000 check to help make the down payment on their home and unbeknownst to the family arranges with Aaron's to fill that home with the mother's favorite style of furniture.
According to Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership President Ken Butler, Homes for the Holidays is one of the Company's favorite annual charities. "We have worked with Warrick every year since 2002 and we can't begin to describe the inspiring stories of courage and perseverance we have heard from these mothers. And the look on the families' faces when they realize what is happening is such a joy to see. While these families know they are being presented with the keys to the homes they have worked so hard to earn, they have no idea that everything they need to furnish their homes is being provided to them, as well. Aaron's associates are very, very proud of our involvement with Homes for the Holidays."
This year's presentations in Atlanta were made in the course of a single day and included four deserving families:
Martha Renderos is a 36-year-old mother of three sons aged 16, 13 and 8. Martha has been working with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and prior to receiving her home lived in an older un-maintained house where she and her sons would go without heat during the winter months. Martha works 6-7 days a week as a nanny and picks up other babysitting and cleaning jobs on the side to make ends meet. She was referred to Habitat for Humanity by the President of her former neighborhood association because of Martha's volunteerism including her work on an annual toy and clothing drive to benefit neighborhood kids.
Sheronda Russell is a 28-year-old mother of a 10-year old daughter. She has been working with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and holds down two jobs while enrolled as a full-time student at Atlanta Technical College where she will earn an Associates Degree in Business Administration next month. Sheronda's main goal is to provide her daughter with the opportunities and education she did not have while growing up.
Deann Watson is a 34-year-old mother of four children aged 7 to 16. Deann has been working with Habitat for Humanity of Hall County. She was so anxious to complete the 300 hours of sweat equity required by the organization that she completed them a full six months before the group broke ground on her own home. Prior to receiving her home the family lived in an apartment with no air conditioning and limited heat. The children witnessed several drug deals and violence from their windows. Deann is looking forward to living in a home where her children can leave their bikes on the front porch without them being stolen.
Homes for the Holidays was established by the Warrick Dunn Foundation in 1997 as a way to honor the life of his mother, Betty Smothers, a police officer and security guard, killed during a robbery attempt while working as an off-duty police officer in Baton Rouge. For more information on Homes for the Holidays or the Warrick Dunn Foundation visit www.warrickdunnfoundation.org.
Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE:RNT), based in Atlanta, currently has more than 1,290 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada for the rental and sale of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics and household appliances and accessories. The Company also manufactures furniture, bedding and accessories at 12 facilities in five states.
Aaron's stores offer customers access to high quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers for sale or on a lease-ownership arrangement. Customers have the option of buying their merchandise for an attractive cash price, or opting to lease their merchandise for even greater flexibility. With a lease option, customers make modest monthly payments and have the immediate use of the items they need without waiting for credit checks or other delays. Plus, Aaron's will take care of delivery, set-up, repairs and more for the duration of a customer's lease.
CONTACT: Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership
Michele Vance
913-205-8958
www.shopaarons.com