Boys & Girls Clubs of America Hosting Virtual Teen Conference July 24

Press Release

ATLANTA (July 13, 2020) – Boys & Girls Clubs of America is excited to announce it will host its first ever virtual National Keystone Conference on Friday, July 24, 2020 from 2-5PM EST and all teens are invited to participate. Presented by Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE:AAN), the Keystone Conference is where nearly 1,500 teen leaders from across the country come together to lift up their voices and advocate for change in their communities. The 2020 Keystone Conference was scheduled to be in Washington, D.C. this month but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person event was cancelled. 

The theme of this year’s conference is “We the Youth Declare We Will Be Heard, Seen and United.” Teens will have the opportunity to discover their passions, voice their concerns, create a plan and take action through various breakout sessions throughout the afternoon. The National Keystone Conference is led by an all-teen steering committee representing communities from across the country, including native lands and U.S. military installations worldwide. 

“This year our teens are facing new challenges unlike ever before,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “From the COVID-19 pandemic to the fight against racial injustice, teens are overwhelmed, and they need a safe place to ask questions and let their voices be heard. Thanks to Aaron’s, Inc., now thousands of teens will have the opportunity to find their purpose, be an advocate among their peers and take lessons learned from the conference back to their communities.”

In 2018, Aaron’s announced a three-year, $5 million renewal of its national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Keystone Program, helping teens develop their character and leadership skills in hopes of helping them reach their potential and create positive change in the community. Keystone Club teen centers provide members ages 14-18 an environment to “Own their Future” by planning and participating in activities that focus on community service, academic success, career preparation and teen outreach. 
 
“Aaron’s is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to bring this year’s Keystone Conference to teens worldwide,” said John Robinson, CEO of Aaron’s, Inc. “Although these are challenging times, my hope is that teens will use this opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and confidence to create a better future for themselves. We’re so honored to help teens raise their voices and ignite change in their communities.”

All teens, not just teens from Boys & Girls Clubs, are invited to participate. To register your teen(s), visit https://na.eventscloud.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=553256&.

For more information about Keystone and the Aaron’s and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnership, click here.  

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.7 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.

About Aaron’s, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Progressive Leasing provides lease-purchase solutions through more than 20,000 retail partner locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia, including e-commerce merchants. The Aaron’s Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, home appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its approximately 1,400 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Vive Financial (“Vive”, formerly Dent- A-Med, Inc.), provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally-insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and ViveCard.com.

Media Contacts

Ashley Keyes
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
404-285-2326
akeyes@bgca.org