Offers $1 million donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters and local children’s charities.
CST Brands, a Fortune 500 convenience chain based in San Antonio, and parent company of Corner Store, has wrapped up its first-ever signature fundraising event, an eight-city 5K fun run series called the Corner Store Country Run.
The Country Run raised a net total of $1 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the U.S. and Canada and local children’s charities in each of the eight race markets, including revenue from participant registrations, sponsors such as Oak Farms, Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola, and Corner Store customers who donated at the register in participating locations.
On Saturday, Corner Store CEO Kim Lubel presented a check for $500,000 to representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters, the world’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network. All other event proceeds will go to various children’s charities in each market.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to have been chosen as a charity partner for the inaugural Corner Store Country Run,” stated Pam Iorio, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “Their support has positively impacted the lives of the children and families we serve, and we are grateful for their generosity.”
The first Country Run kicked off in Montreal, Quebec on Sept. 13 and ended in San Antonio on Saturday, stopping along the way in Little Rock, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Austin and Dallas—all cities with a strong Corner Store presence.
From beginning to end, the series attracted more than 20,000 registrations and generated more than 200,000 mentions on social media of the official #CountryRun2014 hashtag.
“For a first-year race, the Country Run has been successful beyond our greatest hopes,” said Kim Lubel, CEO and chairman of CST Brands, Corner Store’s parent company. “People loved the concept, they dressed the part, they loved that it was family-friendly. It gave us the perfect platform to engage our employees, our customers, our sponsors and our communities for a great cause.”
The course was farm-themed with hay bales, corn stalks and giant inflatable cows and pigs, and participants dressed in Western wear, overalls, cowboy hats, even a chicken costume. Registration included a T-shirt, blue finisher ribbon and a free country fair with live music, beer garden, food, carnival games and giveaways.
2014 Corner Store Country Run Schedule
Montreal, Quebec Angrignon Park Sept. 13 10 a.m.
Little Rock, Ark. The Park at War Memorial Stadium Sept. 20 7:30 a.m.
Phoenix, Ariz. Rawhide Western Town Sept. 27 8:30 a.m.
Denver National Western Complex Oct. 12 8 a.m.
Houston, Texas NRG Park Oct. 18 9 a.m.
Austin, Texas Dell Diamond Nov. 1 8:30 a.m.
Dallas Fair Park Nov. 8 8 a.m.
San Antonio Freeman Coliseum Nov. 15 8:30 a.m.