Rent-to-own News - RTO swings into action for Clay scholarship benefit

The rent-own-industry is once again pitching in to help deserving students find the financial support they need to attend college with its sponsorship of the 13th annual William L. Clay Scholarship and Research Golf Tournament September 8.

In total, the industry -- including national representation by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations -- will sponsor the St. Louis tournament to the tune of $14,000.

So far more than 180 scholarship recipients have received undergraduate degrees since the start of the program and another 40 are currently enrolled in more than 14 colleges around the nation.

The tournament's namesake, Congressman William Lacy Clay, is the U.S. House sponsor of industry supported rent-to-own legislation -- H.R. 1767.

Mt. Vernon, Illinois-based Rent One is a $7,000 gold sponsor.

APRO, Missouri Rental Dealers Association and RNR Custom Wheels and Tires of St. Louis are a collective $5,000 gold sponsor with Cleek's Lease or Own and National Rent to Own each committing to a $1,000 hole sponsorship.

Sponsorships include participation in the golf tournament and the rent-to-own lineup so far includes: Steven Carrico and Richard Berman from RNR, Wade Marks from Rent One and a yet unnamed player from Rent-A-Center.

This June, the rent-to-own industry raised over $50,000 worth of merchandise and in-kind donations for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Silent Auction which will finance a national scholarship program. In April, APRO awarded it's first annual scholarship award to Penny Wyatt of Desloge, Missouri. Read more.

mevans@rtohq.org