ATLANTA, Aug. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's
Company (NYSE: AAN), a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel
provider of lease-purchase solutions, partnered with the Boys &
Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to help a longtime club member in
Indiana prepare for college with a
surprise donation worth $6,000.
Initially shy and reserved when he first joined the Boys &
Girls Club of Huntington County 10
years ago, Caden rose to become a national "Youth of the Year"
honoree and the president of his Keystone Club, the Boys &
Girls Clubs of America's teen development and leadership
program.
To recognize his journey and accomplishments, he was selected as
the first teen in the nation to receive a "personal refresh" from
Aaron's, complete with a new bedroom set, desk, computer, TV, sound
bar, Beats headphones, mini-fridge, gaming chair and more – a
donation worth $3,000. Since he will
be commuting to college from his family's apartment, Aaron's also
presented him with a $3,000
transportation grant toward gas money and general maintenance.
"This gift is truly a blessing – life-changing, really,"
said Caden. "Honestly, if I hadn't gotten involved with
the Boys & Girls Club, I don't know where I'd be, but I
certainly wouldn't be the person I am today."
Aaron's donation to Caden followed a significant investment in
the teen center at the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington County in 2017, when it received a
$20,000 refresh as part of a
three-year, $5 million agreement
between Aaron's and BGCA. For each of the last seven years, Aaron's
has served as the presenting sponsor of the National Keystone
Conference, the annual event where thousands of teens from around
the country come together to learn about leadership development and
recognize the achievements of their peers. Due to the coronavirus
pandemic, the last two conferences were held virtually, with
Aaron's providing critical support for the infrastructure that
drove the online event.
"Caden's story is a prime example of why we believe so strongly
in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as they help
our youth reach their full potential," said Douglas Lindsay, CEO of The Aaron's Company. "It
is so gratifying to see the impact our investment in the Keystone
Club program has made on an individual like Caden and teens
everywhere who have benefitted from the 46 teen center refreshes we
have completed around the country since 2015."
In addition to Caden's surprise, Aaron's brought another
infusion of new merchandise to the club in Huntington, Indiana, with a $13,00 donation highlighted by new sectionals, a
computer lab, a Pac-Man arcade game and a 20-foot projection
screen. This marked the first time Aaron's performed a second
refresh at a teen center.
"Our corporate partners are essential to the work we do, so we
are incredibly grateful to Aaron's for supporting our Keystone
Clubs nationwide," said Jim Clark,
president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Teens are
our future, so reaching them at such a transformative time in their
lives can make a huge difference in building them into the leaders
of tomorrow."
Since 2015, Aaron's has contributed more than $10 million to support the Keystone Club program.
To learn more about the partnership between Aaron's and BGCA,
please visit the "Aaron's Gives" page at Aarons.com.
About The Aaron's Company
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc.
(NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel
provider of lease-purchase solutions. Aaron's engages in
direct-to-consumer sales and lease ownership of furniture,
appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its
approximately 1,300 company-operated and franchised stores in 47
states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform,
Aarons.com. For more information, visit Aarons.com or
investor.aarons.com.
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SOURCE The Aaron's Company, Inc.