SAN ANTONIO, Texas – CST Brands, a Fortune 500 convenience chain based in San Antonio and parent company of Corner Store, concluded its third annual 10-city 5K race series called the Corner Store Country Run in San Antonio on November 12.
The Country Run raised a net total of $1.46 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the United States and Canada and local children’s charities in each of the 10 race markets. Revenue was raised from participant registrations, sponsors such as Aquafina, Coca-Cola, Valero and Dr Pepper/Snapple, and Corner Store customers who donated at the register in participating locations.
On Saturday, Corner Store CEO Kim Lubel presented a check for $750,000 to representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the world’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network. An additional $450,000 will go to various children’s charities in each market. In Canada, the run raised $235,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montreal and other charitable causes.
“For the past three years, thousands of people have participated in a Corner Store Country Run,” said Pam Iorio, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “We are grateful for our partnership with CST, which gives people the opportunity to support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters through a fun, engaging event.”
The first Country Run kicked off in Montreal, Quebec, on June 18 and ended in San Antonio on November 12, stopping along the way in Denver, Lehigh Valley, Syracuse, Little Rock, Fort Worth, Round Rock, Phoenix and Katy. From beginning to end, the series attracted more than 30,000 registrations and generated more than 312,000 impressions on social media with the official #CountryRun2016 hashtag.
The course was farm-themed with hay bales, tractors and giant inflatable cows, pigs and chickens, and participants dressed in Western wear, overalls and cowboy hats. After the race, participants were treated to a free country fair with live music, a beer garden, food, carnival games and giveaways.
“At Corner Store, we believe in contributing to the communities and neighborhoods where we live and work,” Lubel said. “The Country Run has been a huge success in its third year, and we are thrilled to be raising money for so many great causes.”
This year, Corner Store chose 14 employees to serve as Wellness Warriors for their geographic location, equipping them with a Fitbit and a fitness coach to help them lead a healthier lifestyle. The company brought all 14 Warriors from around the nation to San Antonio to run in the final 5K of the series.