Rent-to-own News - Rent-A-Center outfits Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo

The Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo today unveiled thousands of dollars of new merchandise for the organization’s RAC Room — a dedicated space for teenagers at the William C. Baird Club House located at 2061 Bailey Avenue in the city of Buffalo.

Rent-A-Center coworkers join youth from the William Baird Boys and Girls Club in Buffalo, New York, to celebrate the opening of their new "RAC Room" for teenagers.

The merchandise was donated by Plano, TX based Rent-A-Center, the largest rent-to-own company in the United States, including 55 stores throughout Western New York. Rent-A-Center is a national partner of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

“Rent-A-Center believes that helping children find safe and educational outlets such as the programs and services provided by Boys and Girls Club is of vital importance,” said Evan Manley, regional director, Rent-A-Center, Western New York.  “We are an extremely proud supporter and partner of the Boys and Girls Club of America, and we are pleased to once again lend our support to a Boys and Girls Club in Western New York.”

Rent-A-Center donated two new sofas, three love seats, chairs, lamps, two LCD high definition television (HDTV) and television stand, a home theater system, a CD audio system, an XBOX and PS3 gaming systems, and a computer.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Rent-A-Center,” said Diane Rowe, chief professional officer, Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo. “Without their support we would not have been able to redesign and refurbish a new teen room.  This room will provide our teen members not only a safe place to be, but a place that they can call their own.”

Beginning in 2007 through 2010, Rent-A-Center will create 80 new RAC Rooms around the country adding to the 33 RAC Rooms the company has already furnished, including a RAC Teen Room recently dedicated at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns.  Rent-A-Center also completely furnished and provided various electronics merchandise, including computers for the Boys and Girls Clubhouse at LaSalle Courts after merchandise was stolen and the space was vandalized at the end of last summer.

Founded in 1926, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo has been in the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances.

The organization actively seeks to enrich the lives of girls and boys whom other youth agencies failed to reach and are dedicated to ensuring that the community's disadvantaged youngsters have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures. Core programs engage young people in activities with adults, peers and family members that enable them to develop self-esteem and to reach their full potential.

mevans@rtohq.org