The look on the families’ faces when they realize what is happening is such a joy to see.
Ken Butler, President, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership

(Gainesville, GA) Deann Watson (center) and her 7-year old twins Tyreke and Tinisha were surprised by Warrick Dunn as part of his annual Homes for the Holidays program. When the Watson family arrived at their Habitat for Humanity home to take possession they were surprised by Warrick Dunn appearing and handing the family a $5,000 check and then showing them he had worked with Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership to fill the entire home with furniture as his gift to the family. See a photo gallery.

Aaron Rents (RNT) donated four homes’ worth of merchandise this week to families via the Warrick Dunn Foundation’s Homes for the Holidays campaign.

Thanks to the work of the Foundation, four Atlanta families will spend Thanksgiving in their new homes fully furnished with everything, from furniture to appliances and electronics - even a fully-stocked pantry complete with a holiday turkey. Atlanta Falcon Warrick Dunn established his charitable program called Homes for the Holidays back in 1997, in honor of his mother. Since then, the foundation has helped 64 families and 164 children receive new homes. See a photo gallery.

As part of the program, Warrick surprises every mother with a $5,000 check to help make the down payment on their home and unbeknownst to the family arranges with Aaron’s to fill that home with the mother’s favorite style of furniture.

According to Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership President Ken Butler, Homes for the Holidays is one of the Company’s favorite annual charities. “We have worked with Warrick every year since 2002 and we can’t begin to describe the inspiring stories of courage and perseverance we have heard from these mothers. And the look on the families’ faces when they realize what is happening is such a joy to see. While these families know they are being presented with the keys to the homes they have worked so hard to earn, they have no idea that everything they need to furnish their homes is being provided to them, as well. Aaron’s associates are very, very proud of our involvement with Homes for the Holidays.”

Ken Butler gives 8 year old Samuel Renderos the grand tour after Samuel's mother, Martha Renderos, was awarded a fully furnished home by Warrick Dunn's Home for the Holidays foundation.

This year’s presentations in Atlanta were made in the course of a single day and included four deserving families:

Martha Renderos is a 36-year old mother of three sons aged 16, 13 and 8. Martha has been working with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and prior to receiving her home lived in an older un-maintained house where she and her sons would go without heat during the winter months. Martha works 6-7 days a week as a nanny and picks up other babysitting and cleaning jobs on the side to make ends meet. She was referred to Habitat for Humanity by the President of her former neighborhood association because of Martha’s volunteerism including her work on an annual toy and clothing drive to benefit neighborhood kids.

Sheronda Russell is a 28-year old mother of a 10-year old daughter. She has been working with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and holds down two jobs while enrolled as a full-time student at Atlanta Technical College where she will earn an Associates Degree in Business Administration next month. Sheronda’s main goal is to provide her daughter with the opportunities and education she did not have while growing up.

Deann Watson is a 34-year old mother of four children aged 7 to 16. Deann has been working with Habitat for Humanity of Hall County. She was so anxious to complete the 300 hours of sweat equity required by the organization that she completed them a full six months before the group broke ground on her own home. Prior to receiving her home the family lived in an apartment with no air conditioning and limited heat. The children witnessed several drug deals and violence from their windows. Deann is looking forward to living in a home where her children can leave their bikes on the front porch without them being stolen.

Ken Butler (left), president of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership and Warrick Dunn, founder of Homes for the Holidays.

Homes for the Holidays was established by the Warrick Dunn Foundation in 1997 as a way to honor the life of his mother, Betty Smothers, a police officer and security guard, killed during a robbery attempt while working as an off-duty police officer in Baton Rouge. For more information on Homes for the Holidays or the Warrick Dunn Foundation visit www.warrickdunnfoundation.org.