Thousands Of Aaron's Managers Dedicate Day Of Service To Nashville Children In Need

ATLANTA, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 2,000 managers from 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, will dedicate Tuesday, March 26, as a day of service to hundreds of Nashville-area families in need.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090423/CL03821LOGO)

For the fifth year in a row, Aaron's associates will transform its annual national managers meeting into a city-wide giving initiative, investing more than $500,000 in product and monetary donations and 5,000 hours of service to seven non-profit organizations in Middle Tennessee. This year, Aaron's brings its meeting to Nashville and is focusing on providing aid to children. As part of this effort, Aaron's will present Make-A-Wish^® with a check for approximately $150,000 from funds raised during a Company-wide associate campaign. 

Since 2009, Aaron's managers have invested 25,800 hours and $2 million in product and service donations through outreach projects conducted at national meetings in cities including Washington, D.C., Dallas, Orlando, and now Nashville.

"The nature of Aaron's business is to help families facing economic challenges by providing everyday necessities through an affordable, lease ownership program," said Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald W. Allen. "Aaron's managers meetings are an extension of our corporate philosophy of growing and strengthening the communities in which our associates and customers live. Not only are we opening stores and subsequently providing jobs across the United States and Canada, but we are committed to giving back to the community through meaningful donations of funds, products and services to organizations that aid those in need."

In recognition of Aaron's generosity toward the Middle Tennessee region, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean presented Aaron's with a certificate thanking the Company for its strong sense of corporate responsibility and for providing a day of service to the Nashville community.

Aaron's 2013 Nashville-Area Community Outreach Events for Tuesday, March 26

American Red Cross - Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region
Location: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214
Time: Noon to 5 p.m. – Aaron's is partnering with the American Red Cross – Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region to hold its largest convention blood drive to date in the Middle Tennessee area. During the drive, dedicated Aaron's managers will strive to reach their goal of donating more than 250 units of lifesaving blood. The Tennessee Valley Blood Region serves about 60 hospitals and must have approximately 600 people donate blood or platelets each weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients. Giving blood is vital to saving the lives of those in need. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Charles Davis Foundation
Location: 2400 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee, 37228
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Utilizing the power of volunteers' commitment, knowledge and expertise, Aaron's is partnering with the Charles Davis Foundation in an effort to enhance the quality of life for thousands of residents of Nashville's most impoverished areas. Aaron's will bring life back to the Foundation's Learning Center, which was affected by the 2010 Nashville flood, with renovations and donations including HP computers, computer desks and chairs, dining tables, sectional sofas and flat screen televisions. These additions will aid the Charles Davis Foundation in fulfilling its mission of utilizing education to empower inner city youth. The Foundation was established in 1982 by professional basketball player Charles Davis, who grew up in an impoverished Nashville neighborhood. For more information, visit www.charlesdavisfoundation.org.

Fraternal Order of Police - Andrew Jackson Police Youth Camp
Location: 904 Glenn Court, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 37122
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Every summer, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) hosts a youth camp in an effort to build relationships and provide leadership for more than 300 at-risk Nashville children. This year, Aaron's is aiding the FOP in renovating the sleeping areas – Aaron's associates will be onsite at the camp donating and assembling new bunks with safety rails, mattresses, pillows and blankets. Aaron's will also donate new flat screen televisions, Blu-ray players, and furniture for the Lodge Hall, plus new furniture and beds in the counselors' areas. Painting and landscaping will complete the renovation project, resulting in a complete camp makeover. The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement personnel, with more than 318,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. For more information, visit www.nashvillefop.org.

Nashville Rescue Mission
Location: 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Aaron's volunteers well help transform the lives of participants in Nashville Rescue Mission's life-recovery program with a complete makeover of the Mission's transitional housing for men. Aaron's associates will renovate the rooms with new beds, dressers, rugs and televisions. The library and break rooms will also be upgraded with new appliances, including refrigerators. Since 1954, Nashville Rescue Mission has been dedicated to helping the hungry, homeless and hurting through meeting basic needs, restoring hope and transforming lives. The Mission's doors are open 365 days a year where men, women and children can receive food, clothing and shelter. The Mission also offers support and long-term treatment to men and women struggling with homelessness and addiction through a 12-month residential life-recovery program. For more information, visit www.nashvillerescuemission.org.

Hands on Nashville
Location:  Cumberland Elementary School, 4247 Cato Road, Nashville, Tennessee, 37218
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Aaron's will partner with Hands on Nashville to provide school uniforms to 600 selected elementary-age students in need who are enrolled at multiple Metro Nashville Public Schools, one of the largest districts in the country. The district educates children from 130 nations with most students qualifying for free/reduced-cost school meals. In addition to donating uniforms, Aaron's volunteers will complete painting projects at five schools, including Cumberland Elementary. Select schools will also receive furniture, appliances and other accessories for their schools. Hands On Nashville's mission is to meet community needs through volunteerism. For more information, visit www.hon.org.

Make-A-Wish^®
Location: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214
Aaron's associates will present Make-A-Wish^® with a check for approximately $150,000 raised from a Company-wide associate campaign. The donation will work toward the organization's goal of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Visit Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org to learn more.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Location: 331 Great Circle Road, Nashville, Tennessee, 37228
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Aaron's is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to bring hope to the tables of deserving families. Teams of Aaron's associates will work together to assemble thousands of meals for those in need. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest foundations with more than 200 food banks and food distribution centers. One in four children in the state of Tennessee are food insecure, and in Middle Tennessee alone, 31 percent of the people Second Harvest serves are children. The purpose of the organization is to provide a central distribution center for companies, groups and individuals who wish to help provide food for hungry people in Middle Tennessee. For more information, visit www.secondharvestmidtn.org.

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 2,075 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 brands such as Aarons.com, GoRimco.com, and HomeStagingbyAarons.com.

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.