Rent-A-Center Fund-Raiser Gives $244,415 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Check to Be Presented During 100-Year Anniversary Celebration
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2004--Rent-A-Center Inc. (Nasdaq/NNM:RCII) announced today that its 2004 fund-raising campaign for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) netted $244,415. Company Chairman and CEO Mark Speese will present a check to BBBSA June 15 during its centennial celebration in New York City.
For the second year in a row, customers and the communities around Rent-A-Center's stores could contribute a dollar and sign a paper egg that was displayed on store counters. Contributions at the stores and from employees came to $144,415, and Rent-A-Center matched $100,000.
"Our co-workers really got behind this campaign for Big Brothers Big Sisters because they know it has such a positive impact on children," says Speese. "Several of our stores hosted agencies that were able to sign adults and children up for the program. The bottom line is that this organization helps strengthen families, and everybody benefits."
"We are very appreciative to once again have Rent-A-Center as a corporate sponsor," says Judy Vredenburgh, president and CEO of BBBSA. "Rent-A-Center's ongoing support provides the kind of stability and momentum that makes our organization's goals possible. We are delighted to have them as a partner."
Big Brothers Big Sisters, founded in 1904, is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. In 2003, the organization served more than 220,000 youths, ages 6 through 18 in 5,000 communities across the country in one-to-one relationships. In 2003, Forbes Magazine placed Big Brothers Big Sisters on its Gold-Star list of the top 10 charities for its excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. Big Brothers Big Sisters is conducting a year-long series of events to celebrate its 100th anniversary and hopes to serve one million "at risk" children by 2010. The national headquarters is located in Philadelphia. For additional information visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
Rent-A-Center Inc. (Nasdaq/NNM:RCII), headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates 2,843 company-owned stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The stores offer brand name electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories to consumers under flexible rental-purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. The company also owns national franchisor ColorTyme Inc. For more information about Rent-A-Center, visit www.rentacenter.com.
CONTACT: Rent-A-Center, Plano
Mary Gazioglu, 972-801-1200
or
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Noreen Shanfelter, 215-665-7778
SOURCE: Rent-A-Center Inc.