This is a great example of a successful business giving back to its community.
New York State Senator Darrel Aubertine

Photo Rent-A-Center

L-R Deana Masuicca, Oswego YMCA Armory; Senator Darrel Aubertine; Xavier Dominicis,vice president public affairs, Rent-A-Center; Jane Murphy, executive director Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County; and Mary-Margaret Pekow, executive director, Catholic Charities of Oswego County.

Rent-A-Center's most recent Random Act of Caring in New York State brightened the day for literacy tutors and students when the company donated 14 Acer computers to Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County New York (LVOC) to help the organization establish two new computer reading labs. The sites are located at the Oswego YMCA Armory and Catholic Charities in Fulton. The two new reading lab sites are aiming to serve more than 100 children and 50 adults annually.

Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII) is the nation's largest rent-to-own operator.

Rent-A-Center co-workers from the company's two stores in Fulton, NY helped present and install 14 brand new Acer AMD Athlon X2 Desktop personal computers with 20" LCD monitors as well as a check for $1,400 to purchase specialized literacy software. The donation will help Literacy Volunteers continue its mission of providing quality tutoring in basic literacy skills and conversational English to area residents.

Rent-A-Center visits communities throughout New York State to donate merchandise – from appliances to home furnishings to electronics to computers – to organizations that make a difference in people's lives. Today the educational tools were unveiled at a ceremony at the new Oswego YMCA Armory reading lab attended by students enrolled in Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County's tutoring programs, New York State Senator Darrel Aubertine and other community leaders.

"This is a great example of a successful business giving back to its community," Senator Aubertine said. "Education, especially literacy education, is the foundation of a child's development and the literacy volunteers have done a great job reaching out to help students in Oswego County. Rent-A-Center's choice to provide these computers as one of its 'Random Acts of Caring' will have a positive, far reaching effect on our communities."

In addition to chairing the senate's Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, Aubertine sits on the Commerce and Economic Development & Small Business committees.

"We are very thankful for Rent-A-Center's generous donation of computers and literacy software," stated Jane Murphy, executive director, LVOC. "The establishment of literacy learning labs in Fulton and Oswego will increase access to vital literacy programs for both children and adults. This will enhance our reach to the more than 17,000 adults in Oswego County who cannot read above a basic literacy level."

"Every day we help people with multiple needs, but perhaps with limited resources to build a better life for themselves and their communities," said Bill Monnat, regional director, Rent-A-Center. "We wanted a community initiative that provides value in its community and the Literacy Volunteers program does that. Through our Random Acts of Caring, we are able to help where help is needed when it's needed. That's what we're all about - surprising people who weren't expecting the day to be any different from any other day, with something that enhances their lives."

Rent-A-Center's entire business model is built on showing respect to people who don't always receive the respect they deserve. The company's community acts of caring initiative is now broadening that ideal beyond the doors of Rent-A-Center's more than 170 stores throughout New York.

Now in its second year, Rent-A-Center's Random Acts of Caring program dispatches coworkers monthly to at least one community in New York to surprise people with something unexpected that will brighten their day. Some past random acts of caring included:

- 400 families received $50 credits on their home heating bills in Elmira, N.Y.
- 10,000 RGRTA Freedom Passes were distributed to Rochester bus commuters to assist individuals and community groups with mass transportation needs.
- $30 gas gift cards to over 400 community volunteers in Albany, Schenectady and Troy as a "thank you" during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
- makeovers for three nurses' lounges at Harlem Hospital Center and meals for nursing staff in honor of National Nurses' Appreciation Day.
- 120 nursing students at Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh received a $100 textbook credit to help off-set the high cost of textbooks.
- Buffalo's Reading Rules! 2008 Kids Summer Reading Challenge program received $21,000 in scholarships and book gift cards and $10,000 was donated to Buffalo library branches to purchase financial literacy materials and to provide financial counseling programs.
- three Staten Island Fire Department stations received new furnishings for their living and training facilities and the FDNY Foundation received a $5,000 check for fire safety programs.
- residents in Olean and military families at Fort Drum enjoyed a special Thanksgiving feast when turkeys and grocery store gift cards were provided by Rent-A-Center co-workers.

"This is a very rewarding and important program to all of us at Rent-A-Center. It provides us a wonderful opportunity to give back to the communities that support and patronize our stores," said Mark Speese, Rent-A-Center's chairman and chief executive officer. "And for our coworkers who understand and champion the importance of a mutually beneficial relationship with these very same communities, this is a great opportunity to walk the talk."

Beyond Random Acts of Caring, Rent-A-Center continues its annual nationwide financial support for fighting hunger, providing positive role models for youngsters, giving boys and girls productive places to spend their free time and supporting financial literacy education programs. The company also has an annual program that awards $50,000 in scholarships to customers and co-workers.

In New York, Rent-A-Center operates 178 stores including. The company also operates a national product service center in Liverpool, where a team of specially trained technicians services merchandise on rent.