We thank Rent-A-Center for helping us continue the important work in the community we've been doing for the past fifty years as the largest after-school program in Queens.
Rodney Fuller, Executive Director, Variety Boys & Girls Clubs

Rent-A-Center District Manager Francisco Santana and local RAC staff join Variety Club Boys and Girls Club staffers and board members, including the Honorable Gloria D'Amico, county clerk for Queens County, at the opening of the new RAC Room.

The Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens unveiled its new RAC, or Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII), Room, a special space for teenagers. The room was furnished with merchandise donated by Plano, TX-based Rent-A-Center, the largest rent-to-own company in the United States. 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 Joesph Romano, regional director, Rent-A-Center, New York City. "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 Queens."

"Across the country, many teens grow up with no place to go after school," said Rodney Fuller, Variety Boys & Girls Clubs executive director. "We work with over 2000 kids a year from all over the globe – from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and South America – who speak as many as fifteen different languages. This room will help us broaden the outlook for kids while giving them a cool place to work, learn and spend time in. We thank Rent-A-Center for helping us continue the important work in the community we've been doing for the past fifty years as the largest after-school program in Queens."

Rent-A-Center is donating a new sofa, two love seats, living room set, table and floor lamps, dining room set, two large flat-panel high definition televisions, a shelf stereo, a home theater system with DVD/DCR combo, and an XBOX and PS3 gaming systems. Beginning in 2007 through 2010, Rent-A-Center will create 80 new RAC Rooms around the country adding to the 33 RAC Rooms already furnished.

Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, Inc was built in 1955 to help eliminate the overwhelming gang problem. The club currently offers after-school and summer programs to over 2000 youths annually, providing youth programs in personal and educational development, citizenship and leadership development, cultural enrichment, health and physical education, and social recreation. The club's mission is to provide children of all backgrounds with the skills and abilities to further develop their self-esteem and self-confidence to become responsible citizens and leaders.