News:

March 11, 2009

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT RECEIVES GRANT FROM RENT-A-CENTER

[Latham, NY] – Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York, Inc. (JA) announced today that it will receive a grant from Rent-A-Center, Inc., to fund expansion for Junior Achievement’s K-12 financial literacy programs.

The $4,400 grant — one of 35 available to local JA operations this year — will enable JA of Northeastern New York to extend the scope of its programs, emphasizing the critical need for financial education among young people. With the funding, the JA operation will be better equipped to engage community volunteers to implement Junior Achievement programs, teaching students age-appropriate, hands-on lessons in budgeting, saving, investing and spending.

The funding is part of a nationwide initiative between Junior Achievement and Rent-A-Center, which involves an $800,000 grant to be dispersed over a four-year period. JA Offices throughout the United States have the opportunity to apply for the annual funding.

"We are proud to support Junior Achievement in its efforts to educate and inspire young people around the country," says Mark Speese, Rent-A-Center chairman and CEO. "JA Worldwide’s programs teach our students valuable lessons that they will use in their future careers and in life, and we are happy to provide assistance that will help the organization reach even more students."

“JA of Northeastern New York is extremely appreciative of the support of Rent-A-Center,” says Edward Murray, JA President. “Now, more than ever, strong personal financial literacy skills are key to our economic recovery and to preventing another financial crisis. Junior Achievement’s financial literacy programs help students learn these skills so they can make informed decisions.”

About Junior Achievement® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 137 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 123 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org. 

About Rent-A-Center

Rent-A-Center, Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates more than 3,000 stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico with a focus on home furnishings and financial services.  The Company employs approximately 18,500 co-workers.  Learn more about Rent-A-Center and its community partnerships at www.rentacenter.com.

-30-