Aaron's Chad Strickland Joins Warrick Dunn Charities Board

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) announced today that Chad Strickland, Vice President of Associate Resources, has joined the Warrick Dunn Charities (WDC) Board of Directors.

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"Aaron's has been honored to support Warrick Dunn Charities for the past decade where we've furnished hundreds of homes through the Homes for the Holidays program," said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We're proud of Chad's appointment to the Warrick Dunn Charities Board of Directors and consider this a reflection of our deep commitment to this organization and its mission to help single parents achieve financial independence and stability through home ownership."

Strickland has served in a variety of roles during his career at Aaron's from Senior Legal Counsel in Employment to the Vice President of Employee Relations.  In 2010, he was tasked with creating a best-in-class centralized human capital function for the 12,000+ employee-member company.

"Aaron's is committed to Warrick Dunn Charities and to the hundreds of families whose lives are changed through this organization's efforts," said Strickland. "Working with WDC supports my professional passion of helping our associates understand how their work impacts not only the company, but the communities in which we live and serve."

"The partnership with Aaron's has led to a tremendous impact on the families we have served over the past decade and we are now excited to welcome Chad to the Warrick Dunn Charities Board," said Warrick Dunn, founder of Warrick Dunn Charities and former NFL running back. "Chad and I actually enjoyed successful college careers during the same years at Florida State University, so it's great to bring a fellow alumnus onto the Board.  It's also energizing to see corporate involvement at Aaron's level of commitment, not only at the outreach level, but by lending strategic expertise through active board membership."

Prior to joining Aaron's, Strickland worked for Celotex Corporation from 1998-2000 and the law firm of Masterman, Culbert and Tully from 2000-2002. A native of Tallahassee, Strickland received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Florida State University, and his JD from Stetson University. He is an inactive member of both the Florida and Georgia Bar Associations.

To date, in partnership with Aaron's, Inc. and Habitat for Humanity affiliates, WDC and its sponsors have rewarded 127 single parents and 344 children and dependents across the nation for achieving the American Dream of first-time homeownership.

In addition to complete home furnishings and furniture provided by Aaron's, Inc., the Homes for the Holidays program also provides its recipients with $5,000 down-payment assistance, greatly lowering their monthly mortgage payments and providing extra money for things like doctor appointments or extra-curricular activities for the children.

For the past 16 years, Warrick Dunn Charities has focused on providing programs and services to single parents who are committed to achieving stability for themselves and their children, making a difference for 100-plus single parents to date – along with more than 344 children. In 2012, Warrick Dunn Charities expanded its service to include a mobile children's bereavement program in Baton Rouge.

About Aaron's, Inc.
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 2,101 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur and Chairman Emeritus R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

Aaron's, Inc. includes the Aarons.com, GoRimco.com, and ShopHomeSmart.com brands.

About Warrick Dunn Charities
Warrick Dunn Charities enriches families' lives academically, economically and socially. Homes for the Holidays is dedicated to providing opportunities for economically-disadvantaged single parents and children who have demonstrated a commitment to achieve financial independence and stability.

Since 1997, the Homes for the Holidays program has rewarded 127 single parents and 334 children and dependents who have reached the American Dream of first-time homeownership in Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Baton Rouge, LA, Dallas, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Tallahassee, FL and Tampa, FL. Betty's Hope, A Children's Bereavement program provides students aged 5-18 with a safe and responsive environment for them to heal and enhance their quality of life after experiencing a loss. For more information, visit www.wdc.org.

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.