Rent-A-Center treats 150 families to Thanksgiving dinner
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| The community welcomes Rent-A-Center’s random act of caring – helping 150 families in Olean, N.Y. |
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday and to continue the Company’s Random Act of Caring community initiative, Rent-A-Center, based in Plano, Texas, teamed-up with Olean Mayor David Carucci today to help ease some of the pain of families in the Greater Olean, New York area that have been affected by the current economic upheaval.
In efforts to make sure all families have the opportunity to have a festive Thanksgiving Day dinner in the comforts of their own home, Rent-A-Center employees handed out 14-16 pound family turkeys and $25 food gift cards redeemable at Tops Markets to 150 area families.
Mayor Carucci, along with Common Council members Jim Finch, Linda Edstrom and Rick Smith. Families were selected from various sources so that those in greatest need would be touched by Rent-A-Center’s Random Act of Caring and have the chance to enjoy a safe holiday at home with their loved ones.
“I am very glad to help with this project,” Mayor Carucci said. “It is so important for families to be together during the holidays and I am honored that I can help make that possible. I offer many thanks to Rent-A-Center for choosing Olean for their ‘Random Act of Caring’ event. I know these residents greatly appreciate this assistance and it is a pleasure to be a part of this event.”
Every day we help people with multiple needs, but with limited resources, build a better life for themselves,” said Evan Manley, regional director for Rent-A-Center. “We wanted a community initiative that helped those less fortunate in the Olean community have a pleasant Thanksgiving Day, as well as remaining in the spirit of our ‘Random Acts of Caring’ initiative. This corporate initiative 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 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 two stores in Olean and more than 170 stores throughout New York.
This is Rent-A-Center’s 10th “Random Act of Caring,” having launched the statewide initiative 10 months ago. Among the Random Acts include…
• 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 several hundred community volunteers in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, N.Y., to say “thank you” during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
• In May, Rent-A-Center coworkers provided furnishing makeovers for three nurses’ lounges at Harlem Hospital Center in honor of National Nurses’ Appreciation Day. The company also provided meals for the nursing staff.
• In June, Rent-A-Center coworkers turned Friday the 13th into a lucky day for 1,000 Brooklynites who each received two tickets to a Brooklyn Cyclones game, and donated $1,300 to Camp Brooklyn to help sponsor camp attendees.
• In July, Rent-A-Center coworkers hosted a group of underprivileged young people from the Syracuse Southwest Community Center for a night at the ball park, including a picnic dinner, Sky Chiefs baseball game and fireworks display.
• In August, Rent-A-Center coworkers ensured that 120 nursing students – all students with a declared nursing major – at Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh received a $100 textbook credit to help off-set the high cost of textbooks.
• In September, Rent-A-Center gave the Mayor of Buffalo $21,000 in scholarships and book gift card to be presented to students that participated in his Reading Rules! 2008 Kids Summer Reading Challenge. The company also donated $10,000 to eight Buffalo library branches to purchase financial literacy materials and to provide financial counseling programs.
• In October as a “thank you” to New York’s “Bravest” for the work they perform each and everyday, Rent-A-Center co-workers from Staten Island delivered new furniture and other furnishings to three FDNY Staten Island firehouses, all in an effort to help improve the living quarters at these three busy Staten Island firehouses. Also a part of Rent-A-Center’s give-back to the FDNY, representatives presented a $5,000 check to the FDNY Foundation to assist the non-profit organization in carrying out its critical life-saving work of the FDNY.
In 2008, Rent-A-Center has dispatched coworkers to at least one community in the state to surprise people with something unexpected to brighten their day. Random will be the 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; knocking on someone’s door on a cold winter morning or having a presence at a summertime street festival – a Random Act of Caring could happen anywhere, anytime in New York State.
“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 for fighting hunger, providing positive role models for youngsters, giving boys and girls productive places to spend their free time and supporting financial literacy education programs. 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 two in Olean. 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 (NASDAQ: RCII), 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 18,900.