Aaron's, Inc. Executives Train for Ironman 70.3 While Raising Over $35,500 to Fight Blood Cancer

ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- John Trainor, CIO at Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) and Steven A. Michaels, VP of Finance at Aaron's, Inc. are training for the Intermedix Ironman 70.3 Augusta on Sunday, September 29^th with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT). Both executives are part of a team of 50 triathletes who are preparing to tackle the distance of a 1.2 mile swim in the Augusta River, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run through the streets of downtown Augusta, all while raising more than $30,500 for blood cancer research. Aaron's, Inc. has also committed a $5,000 donation to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This is John Trainor's second time participating with the program. In 2011, he completed the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon with TNT and he was the team's top fundraiser by raising $6,645.  For Steve, this is his first time participating with TNT as well as his first triathlon. Both executives are currently the team's top fundraisers for the Intermedix Ironman 70.3 Augusta triathlon.

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John Trainor is Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Aaron's, Inc., an Atlanta-based specialty retailer of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories.  Since 1999, he has helped Aaron's grow from 450 stores to more than 2,100 with over $2.2B in revenue.  Prior to joining Aaron's, he worked in technology roles at the Southern Company and the United States Senate.  He has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He lives in Roswell, Georgia, with his wife, Heather, also an accomplished athlete and Team In Training alumna, and his three sons.

Steven A. Michaels is Vice President, Finance of Aaron's, Inc., and has been with the company since 1995.  He has held various roles within the organization starting in the audit department and progressing to his current role in 2008. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Florida and an MBA from Georgia State University.  He is also a Certified Public Accountant.  Steve lives in Johns Creek, Georgia, with his wife Sepeed and their 7-year-old twins, Preston, a boy, and Peyton, a girl.

"We are so proud to have John and Steve on our team to help find a cure for blood cancers," said Lauren Schilt, Team In Training Director for the Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "It takes dedication to prepare for a half Ironman distance triathlon. We are extremely grateful for their commitment and support in our efforts to make a difference."

"Aaron's is proud that John and Steve have personally committed to raise awareness and funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Together they have raised over $30,500 with many of our Aaron's family of franchisees and Aaron's associates generously donating funds.  In addition, Aaron's, Inc. plans to donate $5,000 to support this effort.  We recognize that the Ironman 70.3 exemplifies the type of extreme dedication it will take to find a cure for blood cancer and we support all of the athletes who have devoted themselves to this worthy cause."

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program is the world's largest charity based sports endurance program. Since 1988, more than 600,000 athletes from across the country have successfully completed marathons, half marathons, triathlons, cycling rides and even hiking adventures with the support of world class coaches and mentors. Through fundraising, Team In Training athletes have helped The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provide more than $1 billion towards blood cancer research. The Georgia Chapter of Team In Training is currently recruiting teams for winter season events. To learn more, visit www.teamintraining.org/ga or call (404) 720-7842.

About Aaron's, Inc.
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 2,100 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur and Chairman Emeritus R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

Aaron's, Inc. includes the Aarons.com, GoRimco.com, and ShopHomeSmart.com brands.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. 

The Georgia Chapter serves patients with a variety of programs including the Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program, the Trish Greene Back to School program for children with cancer and Financial Assistance Programs which last year provided over $1.45 million to patients statewide. Currently, the Georgia Chapter funds $2.75 million towards research grants in multi-year agreements with Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Georgia Regents University. There were approximately 4,070 new diagnoses for blood cancer in Georgia in 2012.

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.