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Aaron’s Foundation extended its national partnership with the Boys & Girls of America, committing to three years and $5 million to empower at risk teens. This was announced at the Warren Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta recently. They also renovated a space where kids can play games or do homework. The two organizations initial partnership was a one-year $1 million partnership in 2014. Their slogan is “Own it,” sharing that kids must own their lives.
John Robinson, CEO of Aaron’s Inc., stated Aaron’s has been around for 60 years and never made a commitment this large to any single organization. He also stated that it is rewarding to see the kids who are benefiting from the program. Helping teens, makes the community stronger.
Sam Olens, Attorney General of Georgia, was on hand to talk about the importance of public and private partnerships like Aaron’s. Olen stated that the programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs teach leadership. Olens went on to say that one out of three minorities do not graduate high school. He believes the kids that do not graduate have little chance at success. The ones that come through the BCGC graduate at 90%. He also mentioned that when he first moved to Atlanta and was attending Emory University, he rented furniture from Aaron’s. He met Maya Bailey, the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, and she has been in the organization since she was seven years of age. She is now enrolled at Georgia State University, studying American politics and human geography.
Also present for this celebration was Jim Clark, president/CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of America. Clark stated that Aaron’s is fueling their critical initiative for our teens here in America and Atlanta. Aaron’s is also the presenting sponsor of the Keystone Conference.
