Rent-to-own News - Rent-A-Center renovates nurses' lounges at Harlem Hospital

Rent-A-Center coworkers from around New York and the company’s home office unveiled new furnishing makeovers of three nurses’ lounges at the Harlem Hospital Center and provided courtesy meals today in honor of Nurses’ Appreciation Week.
 
Additionally, the company also funded the Hospital’s “Nurses Day Appreciation” meals on all three shifts as part on the company's ongoing Random Acts of Caring campaign.

Rent-A-Center renovations team members with Harlem Hospital nurses.

“Individuals who choose nursing as their profession do so for the intrinsic rewards of helping others in need,” said Mike McNamara, senior vice president for Rent-A-Center in the New York City area. “While they don’t seek fame or recognition for their work, Rent-A-Center wanted to say ‘thank you’ for the consistent compassion, care and concern they provide our customers, our coworkers and all Harlem community members whose health care requires a hospital visit or stay.”
 
“This generous gift will be well-received by the nursing staff at our facility, who work tirelessly to provide quality care-giver services to our patients,” states Dr. John Palmer, executive director of Harlem Hospital Center. “By saying “Thank You” and providing this wonderful donation, Rent-A-Center shows not only a commitment to their consumers, but to their community on a whole.”
 
The company’s merchandise donation included table and chair sets as well as group and individual seating options. Refrigerators and microwaves were provided as well as HDTVs and compact stereo systems.

“In the middle of a busy day, it will be great to have a nice place to go to in order to become refreshed and then be able to go out and provide excellent care to the patients and families,” said Laureen Goodridge, associate executive director of Nursing at Harlem Hospital Center. “As the needs of the staff are met the benefits go to our community.”
 
“Every day we help people with multiple needs but limited resources build a better life for themselves,” said McNamara. “We wanted a community initiative that embodied that same spirit and ‘Random Acts of Caring’ does just that. It lets us surprise people, who weren’t expecting the day to be any different from any other day, with something that instantly enhances their lives simply because someone cares.”
 

Rent-A-Center’s entire business model is built on showing respect to people who don’t always receive the respect they deserve.  The company’s Random Acts of Caring initiative is now broadening that ideal beyond the doors of Rent-A-Center’s more than 170 stores throughout New York.
 

This is Rent-A-Center’s fourth “Random Act of Caring,” having launched the statewide initiative three months ago.
 
• In February, Rent-A-Center coworkers went door-to-door in Elmira, N.Y., providing 400 families with $50 credits on their home heating bills.
 
• In March, Rent-A-Center coworkers handed out 10,000 RGRTA Freedom Passes in Rochester, N.Y., to assist individuals and community groups with mass transportation needs.  
 
• In April, Rent-A-Center coworkers provided $30 gas gift cards to more than 400 community volunteers in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, N.Y., to say “thank you” during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
 
At least once a month, Rent-A-Center will dispatch coworkers to at least one community in the state to surprise people with something unexpected that will brighten their day. 

Random will be key word in the Random Acts of Caring initiative because no one will know when, where or how Rent-A-Center will make a difference in a deserving group of people’s lives. Big city or small town.  Up in the Adirondacks or down by the shores of Lake Erie. In the dead of winter or at a summertime street festival. A Random Act of Caring could happen anywhere, anytime.
 
“This is a fun, creative and, most importantly, useful way to say ‘thank you’ to the many communities where we serve residential and business customers,” said Mark Speese, Rent-A-Center’s chairman and chief executive officer.  “And for our coworkers who understand and champion the importance of a mutually beneficial relationship with these very same communities, this is a great opportunity to walk the talk.”
 
Beyond Random Acts of Caring, Rent-A-Center continues its annual nationwide financial support of America’s Second Harvest, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and Junior Achievement. The company also has an annual program that awards $50,000 in scholarships to customers and coworkers.
 
In New York, Rent-A-Center operates 178 stores including three in Harlem. The company also operates a national product service center in Liverpool, where a team of specially trained technicians services merchandise on rent.
 
Rent-A-Center, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates more than 3,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada with a focus on home furnishings and financial services. The company employs more than 18,700 .
 

mevans@rtohq.org