Atlanta Press Club to Get $1 Million for Debates

September 23,2011

The Atlanta Press Club says the founder of Aaron's Inc. has pledged $1 million to permanently endow the organization's election year political debates.

R. Charles Loudermilk will bestow the gift in $250,000 increments over four years, the press club announced Thursday.

In honor of Loudermilk's friendship with former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, the debates will be called the Atlanta Press Club's Loudermik-Young Debate Series.

The funding will be restricted to the club's debates, which include major political races and issue-oriented programs.

The press club and Georgia Public Broadcasting have collaborated for the last 20 years to organize political debates for Georgia races every election year.