3.11.2008 - 03:30pm ET

(CSRwire) PLANO, TX - March 10, 2008 - Rent-A-Center is raising funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters at its 3,000 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. Customers and area residents can donate one dollar and sign a colorful paper egg in any Rent-A-Center store until March 22. Money raised at each store will go back to the closest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency.

"Our company has had a yearly campaign for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2003," said Mark Speese, chairman and CEO of Rent-A-Center. "It has proven to be popular with our co-workers, and we get great support from the communities we serve. The stores get very competitive with one another to see which one can raise the most money, and local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies benefit from their efforts."

Contributions collected by Rent-A-Center stores are matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000 by the company. Since the fund-raising program began, Rent-A-Center has given the maximum $100,000 match each year and has donated a total of $1.25 million dollars. Some Rent-A-Center stores will be hosting Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates that will give out information about the program. Contact local Rent-A-Center stores for more details.

Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII), headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates more than 3,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada with a focus on home furnishings and financial services. The company employs approximately 20,800 co-workers. For more information about Rent-A-Center, visit www.rentacenter.com.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, BigBrothersBigSisters.org, is the largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. With more than 400 affiliates across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam, it served 255,000 children in 2007 – more than twice the number of five years ago. Independent research shows that its model of professionally supported one-to-one relationships between young people and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters has a measurable, positive impact. Children in the program are less likely to skip school, begin using alcohol and illegal drugs, and be involved in violence. Big Brothers Big Sisters works with policymakers and community leaders across the country to expand access to mentoring for children in need. The organization is currently focusing on recruiting Big Brothers, especially African-Americans and Hispanics.

For more information please contact: