Earnhardt sponsors comedy event for adaptive water sports organization

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Are you ready for an afternoon that will tickle your funny bone? Earnhardt Auto Centers is proud to support “Laugh You AAWS Off,” a stand-up comedy event on Saturday, October 21 at 2 p.m. in Chandler. This rip-roaring event will benefit Arizona Adaptive Water Sports (AAWS).

Mic Drop Mania, 51 E Boston Street in Chandler, hosts the event, with doors opening at 1 p.m. for a 2 p.m. start. Host Ryan Paul Johnson, a participant in AAWS events, delights audiences with tales of his own triumphs over life’s challenges. He draws inspiration from his personal journey of navigating life with a spinal cord injury. Joining him are Diva Danielle and headliner Tony Behinfar. Event tickets are $24 each, available online. Grab your friends and family, and come on out for a great time!

AAWS is Arizona’s only water sports program dedicated to providing adaptive activities to individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. AAWS activities include kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, boating, tubing and fishing.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Adaptive Water Sports

The Earnhardt organization generously supports this and several other local organizations each year. An annual bicycle drive in September broke previous records, collecting 1,500 gently used bikes and raising $24,442 in monetary donations. This event benefited The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an organization dedicated to feeding, clothing, housing and healing individuals and families in the community with nowhere else to turn for help.

Established in 1951, Earnhardt Auto Centers has a long history in Arizona. Founder Tex Earnhardt started the company with one Ford dealership in Chandler, and it evolved to today’s organization with 17 dealerships representing 15 brands in locations around the Valley. Longtime Arizona residents fondly remember Tex’s catchphrase, “That ain’t no bull.”

Tex’s children and grandchildren honor his legacy by continuing to operate Earnhardt Auto Centers as a local, family-owned business. The company and individual dealerships continue to receive recognition. Earnhardt Lexus in Phoenix was recently voted a Best of Arizona Business as part of AZ B IG Media’s Ranking Arizona publication for 2023.

Congratulations to Earnhardt Lexus and the entire team at Earnhardt Auto Centers for their success, and thank you for their generosity to the community!

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.