Aaron’s And Progressive Leasing Present Georgia Single Mother With New Home In Partnership With Warrick Dunn
Georgia resident Lula Jobir and her son receive the keys to their new Habitat Home from former NFL star Warrick Dunn, founder of Warrick Dunn Charities (WDC), as part of the Homes for the Holidays (HFTH) program.
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, and its divisions Aaron’s and Progressive Leasing, provided the home furnishings this week for a Surprise Home Presentation to Snellville, Georgia resident Lula Jobir and her son as part of Homes for the Holidays (HFTH) program sponsored by former NFL star Warrick Dunn and Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity.
“Aaron’s is excited to continue our meaningful partnership with Warrick Dunn Charities to help make a difference in single parents’ lives across the county,” said John Robinson, CEO of Aaron’s, Inc. “It’s clear that Lula has worked hard to achieve her dreams and we’re proud to contribute to her and her son’s bright futures by furnishing her new home with beds, furniture, electronics and appliances.”
Warrick Dunn Charities’ (WDC) Homes for the Holidays assists single parents in becoming first-time homeowners by providing the materials necessary for long-term stability and the provisions required to ensure that both parent and children can thrive educationally, socially and economically. To date, in partnership with Aaron’s and Habitat for Humanity affiliates, WDC and its sponsors have rewarded 154 single parents and over 400 children and dependents with the American Dream of first-time homeownership in 15 cities across the nation. This fall marks WDC’s 20th year in assisting single parents and their families through the Homes for the Holidays program.
This featured bedroom is one of the rooms that Aaron’s, Inc. filled with furniture, electronics and appliances in Georgia resident Lula Jobir’s new Habitat home. The home, filled with furniture, electronics and appliances from Aaron’s, Inc.
Lula Jobir arrived in the United States 16 years ago as an Ethiopian immigrant seeking asylum from the country’s harsh politics, gaining her U.S. citizenship in 2011. She is moving out of a two-bedroom apartment she lived in with her mother, sister and son, with whom she shared a room. She works as a certified animal care tech at Emory University.
“Our fundamental goal at Warrick Dunn Charities is to provide single parents with financial stability and, thanks to Aaron’s, these families are able to begin their new lives with homes full of furniture, electronics and appliances,” said Dunn. “I began this charity as a tribute to my mother’s dream of homeownership and Lula embodies that dream with her dedication and unwavering enthusiasm every time she talks about living in her family’s new beautiful home.”
Aaron’s has been a longtime supporter of WDC initiatives and began contributing home furnishings, appliances and electronics to the Homes for the Holidays program in 2003. Warrick Dunn Charities, founded by former NFL star Warrick Dunn, was registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2002.
About Aaron’s, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Aaron’s Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories through its more than 1,860 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada as well as its e-commerce platform Aarons.com. In addition, Progressive Leasing, a virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 22,000 retail locations in 46 states. Dent-A-Med, Inc., d/b/a the HELPcard®, provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and HELPcard.com.
About Warrick Dunn Charities
Warrick Dunn Charities provides hope and healing to communities through innovative programming inspired by our Founder’s life journey. Since 1997, the Homes for the Holidays program has awarded 154 single parents and over 400 children and dependents that have achieved first-time homeownership in Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Baton Rouge, LA, Dallas, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Tallahassee and Tampa, FL Serving single-parent families nationwide, WDC and its partners have combated poverty, hunger and ensure families have basic necessities and comfortable surroundings to improve their quality of life. For more information, visit www.wdc.org.
Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.
For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.
Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!
Lauren Talicska
Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials
Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.
You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).
Charles Smitherman
APRO
Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry.
Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.
Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.
Mike Kays
Ashley Furniture Industries
As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.
Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.
The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.
Mike Tissot
Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own
Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.
He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.
Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.
