Aaron's Reveals Keystone Club Remodel at Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee

ATLANTA, April 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In a partnership to empower teens in Nashville, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to remodel a Keystone Club teen center in Franklin, Tennessee. 

The makeover, which features a study room complete with computer desks and laptops, a lounge area with sectionals and TVs, a new game space featuring wide-screen TVs, and an arcade basketball game and a ping pong table, was revealed in a ceremony today attended by teens who are members of the Keystone Club at Franklin Branch Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. Local Aaron's associates and Boys & Girls Clubs officials were in attendance.

Last year, the Aaron's Foundation, Inc. announced a $1 million national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Keystone Program, which empowers teens to develop their character and leadership skills in hopes of helping them reach their potential and creating positive change in the community. Keystone Club teen centers provide members ages 13-18 an environment to plan and participate in activities that focus on community service, academic success, career preparation and teen outreach. The Keystone Club makeover at Franklin Branch Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee includes an in-kind retail donation valued at $23,000.

"Giving a facelift to a vital community resource and trying to improve the lives of at-risk teens is very much part of the philanthropic DNA of Aaron's," said John Robinson, CEO of Aaron's, Inc. "We're proud to work hand-in-hand with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to make this possible in Franklin and other communities across the U.S."

After getting input from teens on what they wanted in a refurbished Keystone Club, Aaron's associates and Club members went to work on Wednesday painting, decorating and furnishing the Club. The teens designed the space to include the study, lounge and game areas, and requested special paint colors for the space:  Sherwin Williams™ "Patience" cream and Sherwin Williams™ "Invigorate" orange.

"In a matter of hours, Aaron's has helped us transform this outdated space into a fantastic-looking, functional Club that our teens can be proud of for years to come," said Tim Brown, Franklin Club Program Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. "Our partnership with Aaron's has provided not only a great space for our teens, but also a great lesson for them on the importance of giving back to the community."

Aaron's hopes its partnership with BGCA's Keystone Program inspires teens to "Own It" by taking ownership of their choices to build the lives they deserve. The Aaron's and Keystone Club "Own Your Future" campaign supports three principles:

• Own Your Path: No matter where you come from, the future is yours to decide. 
• Own Your Decisions: Making good choices opens more doors for your future.
• Own Your Community: Use your talents to make an impact in your community.

To see photos of the Keystone Club remodel at Franklin Branch Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, visit http://facebook.com/aaronsinc and http://twitter.com/aaronsinc.

Aaron's is committed to the greater Nashville market and has approximately 20 stores in the Nashville area.

About Aaron's, Inc.
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, currently has more than 2,100 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Aaron's was founded in 1955, is headquartered in Atlanta and has been publicly traded since 1982. Progressive Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary and leading virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 15,000 retail locations in 46 states. Aaron's, Inc. includes the Aarons.com, ShopHomeSmart.com and ProgLeasing.com brands. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/bgca.clubs and http://bgca.org/twitter.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150410/197913
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130826/CL69318LOGO

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.

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