WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Kum & Go served as the 2006 race sponsor of the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) in late July and has launched a campaign to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation in honor of the famous cyclist's RAGBRAI participation.
From Sunday, July 23, through Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, Kum & Go convenience stores statewide will accept customer donations for Armstrong's foundation, said Kyle Krause, CEO of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go. Approximately 1.4 million Americans [image-nocss] will be diagnosed with cancer in 2006, and one in three Americans is at risk in his or her lifetime. We applaud Lance in his decision to join RAGBRAI to promote cancer awareness and further his foundation's efforts to find a cure. Encouraging our customers to donate is one way we can demonstrate our thanks and support.
Kum & Go customers are being encouraged to contribute $1, $5 or $10 and sign their names in a guest book next to the register in each of the 237 Iowa stores. Officials will compile a master list of contributors and their names will be entered onto a computer chip. This chip will be embedded into a commemorative money clip holding the actual donation, which will be presented to Armstrong later in the fall.
This campaign provides our customers with a way to ride' with Lance and champion a cure for cancer. We decided to give him the special money clip in addition to the donation so he can carry the names of supportive Iowans with him wherever he travels and races in the world, said Krause. So not only are we asking our customers to donate to this wonderful cause, but we plan on adding a generous corporate gift to the total donation as well.
Besides sponsorship and fundraising, Kum & Go sent Go Crew teams out to key sites along the bike and driver routes to deliver their special brand of customer service excellence by providing refreshments, coupons and other surprises to participants and supporters. Go Crew teams are comprised of college students serving as Kum & Go interns who travel all summer long delivering not only these products but also unexpected service, including pumping gasoline, washing car windshields and more.
The RAGBRAI event occurred from July 22 to July 28. More than 10,000 bicycle riders participated in this year's ride, the chain said.
In other company news, Krause recently announced the addition of Ruth Ju as vice president of quality. Ju's responsibilities are quality and process improvement. Ju has previously worked at Home Depot as director of business process improvement.
Kum & Go operates more than 430 c-stores in 13 states (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Colorado, Arkansas, Wyoming and Wisconsin). Each year, it returns 10% of its profits to the communities it serves.
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