BONUS CONTENT: Paying It Forward

SAN ANTONIO — Running CST Brands Inc. is not the only kind of running Kim Lubel does. This fall, she personally took part in five of the eight "Corner Store Country Run" 5K fun runs that CST Brands organized as its first-ever signature fundraising event.

The eight-city fun run series kicked off Sept. 13 in Montreal and concluded Nov. 15 in CST Brands' hometown of San Antonio. Along the way, the series made stops in Little Rock, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Austin and Dallas — all cities with a strong Corner Store presence.

Each course was farm-themed with hay bales, corn stalks and giant inflatable cows and pigs. Participants dressed in Western wear, overalls, cowboy hats, and even a chicken costume.

In its inaugural year, the Corner Store Country Run series raised a net total of $1 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the United States and Canada, and local children's charities in each of the eight race markets. Fundraising revenue came from participant registrations (more than 20,000); sponsors such as Oak Farms, Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola; and Corner Store customers who donated at the register in participating locations.

"We wanted an event that could bring in our store employees, their families, our customers, our supplier partners, etc.," said Lubel, who "jogged fast" in five of the runs. "It really turned out to be terrific and it's something that gives us a bigger platform to build on."

Lubel was recently celebrated as Convenience Store News' inaugural Retailer Executive of the Year award winner. She has served as chairman, president and CEO of CST Brands since its inception in May 2013. This new award recognizes a current retailer executive who exemplifies leadership, business acumen, dedication to the convenience store industry, and commitment to community service.

Editor's note: Check out the December issue of Convenience Store News for our full report on Kim Lubel and the Convenience Store News Retailer Executive of the Year award. A digital edition of the issue can be accessed by clicking here.