Rent-to-own News - American Rental makes dream come true for Indiana family

American Dream fulfilled: Dennis Adams, Devin and Tyria McKain and David P. David at the dedication of the McKain's home financed and built by American Rental and its employees.

What began as a vision for American Rental General Manager David P. David, became a brick and mortar reality for one Nashville, Indiana family Saturday with the dedication of a new home his company helped fund and build.

"This is not a gift from American Rental or Brown County Habitat for Humanity," David told new homeowners Tyria McKain and her son Devin, "this is a gift from God. I hope you will think of this not as an ending but as a new beginning."

David was inspired in the effort to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity project by an industry-wide APRO Habitat effort in Austin, Texas years ago and he launched the fundraising for this project in his home state last year after winning $1,000 at the APRO Convention in Louisville.

Through in-store fundraising which included the selling of candy bars, customer donations and $1 per delivery company donations during certain months in addition to applying purchase order discounts from Ashley, United Furniture,  Welton and other vendors, American Rental raised $38,000 for the effort.

The company also dedicated 440 of the 2,200 volunteer hours to the construction effort.

"I just wanted to bring some of those same positive experiences I had in Austin back to my employees," David said.

The McKain's were living in an apartment subject to frequent flooding and mold problems.

As of Saturday, they are proud owners of a 2-2 home on a wooden lot outfitted with new appliances and a flat screen television, also furnished by American Rental.

"This is truly the difference between a house and a home," Tyria said. "I want to thank God, Habitat for Humanity, American Rental and all the community for this blessing."

Dennis Adams, American Rental district manager, who oversaw American Rental's volunteer effort, said the blessing was only part the McKain's.

"It was really a tremendous experience having the family there everyday thanking us, sincerely thanking us for what we were doing. I don't know who got more out of it, but we were proud to be a part of it."

The event was the highlight of the "Celebrating 30 Years and Beyond: The American Innovation Expo" which took place July 29-30 at the Season's Hotel and Conference Resort in Nashville, Indiana and included a two-day 35  vendor product training of more than 130 American Rental Employees, golf tournament and company-wide picnic which concluded the event Saturday and commemorated the company's 30th anniversary.

See photos from the event here.