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.
Garet Hayes; garet.hayes@aarons.com; 678-402-3863