Aaron's, a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, recently awarded customer John Souders the vehicle of his choice, valued up to $42,500, along with a $5,000 cash prize after he was randomly drawn from more than 400,000 entries in Aaron’s “Drive Into Summer” sweepstakes.

Souders, 43, supports his family through a combination of DoorDash driving and other odd jobs, but throughout his community he is perhaps better known as a professional accordion player. Inspired as a teenager by the music of “Weird Al” Yankovic and performances on "The Lawrence Welk Show," Souders studied accordion for three years before launching a career that has taken him to arts festivals, charity fundraisers and private events across the region.

He regularly performs for residents at local assisted living and rehab facilities and donates his talents to community causes, including events benefiting Habitat for Humanity. In addition to his musical performances, he also lends his voice to local advertising projects. He estimates nearly half of his appearances are volunteer performances.

Souders and his wife entered the sweepstakes while shopping for a couch at their local Aaron's store, after a manager encouraged him to sign up. Their selection as the sweepstakes winner came shortly after the transmission failed on the family's minivan, leaving Souders and his wife without reliable transportation for their two sons, Tyler, 13, and Everett, 11 months.

“We know how important reliable transportation is for families, so we’re honored to help make life a little easier for John and his loved ones,” said Steve Olsen, Chief Operating Officer for Aaron's. “John's dedication to supporting his community while taking care of his family reflects the values we see in so many of our customers, and we're thrilled to celebrate with him.”

When it came time to choose a vehicle, Souders skipped the sports car and selected a practical option for his family: a Toyota Sienna XLE Hybrid. The choice provides the reliability and fuel efficiency his family needs, and the winnings also allowed him to purchase a five-year extended warranty, offering added peace of mind for years to come.

“This kind of stuff never happens to me – I swear I never win anything,” Souders said. “While it was a huge shock to get that phone call, it could not have come at a better time for our family, so we are incredibly grateful and excited about our new minivan!”

For more information on Aaron's, please visit Aarons.com.