Children’s cancer foundation, adaptive water sports group benefit from Earnhardt Auto Centers’ generosity

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During the heat of the summer, generosity didn’t take a break at Earnhardt Auto Centers. The Earnhardt team continued to give generously and benefit Arizona-based organizations.

Employees at Earnhardt Auto Centers can agree to donate a portion of their regular paychecks to specific charities through “No Bull Charities.” Each quarter, a different employee-selected charity receives the funds. This year’s second-quarter donations benefitted the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, and Earnhardt employees contributed $5,857 to this organization.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children

The Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children provides social, emotional and financial support to families faced with pediatric cancer. The foundation brings Sunshine Packs with comforting, educational and entertaining items for a child with cancer. They also sponsor outings for families, including trips to movies, theaters, theme parks and sporting events. Counseling and financial assistance are also available to families affected by pediatric cancer.

Photo courtesy of Earnhardt Auto Centers Facebook

On July 15, the Earnhardt team also hosted a matinee comedy event, Laugh Your AAWS Off, to benefit a nonprofit group called Arizona Adaptive Water Sports (AAWS). AAWS provides adaptive water sport activities like fishing, boating, kayaking, tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing to individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Hosted by Ryan Paul Johnson, the comedy event kept audiences in stitches at the Mic Drop MANIA Comedy Club in Chandler. It was an afternoon to remember!

Earnhardt Auto Centers is known throughout the Valley and the Southwest for selling and servicing new and used automobiles with their iconic “No Bull” approach. Earnhardt Charities also gives back to the communities where their employees work and live. In addition to financial donations to No Bull Charities, employees are encouraged to volunteer their time to different local organizations.

Every year, Earnhardt locations collect gently used bicycles for Recycle Your Bicycle, providing bikes to kids in foster care. Employees also volunteer their time to help refurbish the donated bicycles. They’ve also benefited the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley by collecting and donating gently used sports equipment.

Earnhardt Auto Centers represents 15 brands at 17 dealerships in Arizona. The company has a long history of supporting local causes and organizations. 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.