Earnhardt locations collecting donations for Second Chance Bike Drive on September 17

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Recycle Your Bicycle at any Earnhardt Auto Centers location through September 30

Do you have a bike in your garage or attic that’s collecting dust? Bring it to any Phoenix-area Earnhardt Auto Centers location for the Second Chance Bike Drive on September 17!

Earnhardt’s charity partner, St. Vincent de Paul, will collect bicycles at all Earnhardt locations from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, September 17. Representatives from St. Vincent de Paul will refurbish and distribute these bicycles to kids and families in need. ABC 15 also partners in this drive.

This annual drive gathers bicycles to update and donate to Phoenix area children and families. If you have an older, unused bike or maybe a newer model that your kids have outgrown, bring it over to Earnhardt! This drive will get your donations cleaned up and ready to make a child happy. Of course, you can donate a new bicycle too.

“At Earnhardt, we’re in the business of people, transportation and supporting the communities that support us,” said Hal Earnhardt III, president of Earnhardt Auto Centers.

Donating is easy because all 17 Earnhardt Auto Centers locations in the Valley are participating. Visit Earnhardt Auto Centers online to find the location closest to your home or work. You can also donate funds online at www.abc15.com/bike anytime in September. Thank you for your generosity!

Earnhardt Auto Centers and the Earnhardt family have a long tradition of giving to the community. Various charities and causes benefit from the Tex Earnhardt foundation, a nonprofit corporation named after Earnhardt’s founder, Tex. Many employees also participate in a company charity program, No Bull Charities, where payroll deductions are given to a different charity each quarter.

Earnhardt team members also support families of fallen first responders through the 100 Club, along with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley and the East Valley Child Crisis Center. In addition, they worked with the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families to help promote the sale of child abuse prevention license plates. And the sale of a commemorative Tex Earnhardt T-shirt helped to raise thousands of dollars for a local charitable group, the Chandler Compadres. Giving and helping others is just a way of life for the Earnhardt Auto Centers team. And that ain’t no bull!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.