ATLANTA, Dec. 23, 2019 — Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, and its divisions Aaron’s and Progressive Leasing, joined forces this fall with former NFL greats Kurt Warner and Warrick Dunn to provide furnishings for seven “Homes for the Holidays” surprise presentations, representing a $70,000 commitment to help first-time homeowners.
The donations came in collaboration with Warrick Dunn Charities and Kurt Warner’s First Things First Foundation, two organizations that have counted on Aaron’s as a critical supporter for over 15 years. The Warrick Dunn Charities home reveals took place in Augusta, Ga. (Sept. 17); Lilburn, Ga. (Oct. 1); St. Petersburg, Fla. (Oct. 15); Atlanta, Ga. (Nov. 5); and Nashville, Tenn. (Dec. 17). Meanwhile, the First Things First Foundation changed the life of a family of four in Mesa, Ariz. on Nov. 22.
“Homes for the Holidays” celebrates single parents who are actively working to help themselves through first-time homeownership by alleviating the additional financial burdens that can come along with upfitting a new home. While the homes themselves are constructed and financed through Habitat for Humanity, the surprise comes when the families discover the houses are fully furnished and stocked thanks to Aaron’s, with Warrick Dunn Charities and the First Things First Foundation also providing down-payment assistance. Additional support for Warrick Dunn Charities came from Ryan Jumonville, Peach State Federal Credit Union, Cigna and the Motiv8 Foundation; while U-HAUL, Brooklyn Bedding and Sprouts contributed on behalf of the First Things First Foundation.
“We are so grateful to Warrick Dunn and Kurt Warner, whose tireless work means these families can now proudly call themselves homeowners,” said John Robinson, CEO of Aaron’s, Inc. “These partnerships benefit single parents everywhere, and Aaron’s is honored to help give these deserving families the support they need to truly own the life they want.”
Aaron’s has partnered with Warrick Dunn Charities for over 15 years, helping the former Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back lift up families, primarily around the Southeast. Dunn’s drive to help single mothers is inspired by his mom, a single parent and police officer who was killed off-duty when Dunn was 18 years old.
“It’s difficult to believe we have made the dream of home ownership possible for 176 families in 18 markets over the 22-year history of our ‘Homes for the Holidays’ program,” said Warrick Dunn. “Each home and family are so unique and a true testament to my mom’s memory, and I’m eternally grateful to Aaron’s for being on our team as we continue our mission.”
Inspired by Dunn’s work, fellow “Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year” recipient Kurt Warner made “Homes for the Holidays” part of his foundation’s bedrock in 2002, taking the model from the Southeast to the metropolitan areas that shaped his career – St. Louis, Mo. and Phoenix, Ariz.
“When I met Brenda, she was a single mom of two young children. She knows firsthand the struggles single parents face and the hard work it takes to achieve the dream of homeownership,” said Kurt Warner. “Aaron’s has been instrumental in helping us bless 51 families since we started ‘Homes for the Holidays’ over 15 years ago, and we can’t wait to impact more lives in 2020.”