Again this year, Land Rover is honoring local community groups and charities which make a positive impact by giving away fully customized and equipped Defender 130 rescue vehicles, designed to save lives.
The Defender Service Awards expands in 2023 beyond US groups to include Puerto Rico and Canada, plus significant money awards to help non-profits continue their work.
Also, the name has changed from Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards to Defender Service Awards Presented by Chase.
There is one vehicle winner and several money winners in each of these six categories –
- Veteran’s & Civil Servant Outreach;
- Community Services;
- Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services;
- Outdoor Accessibility & Education;
- Animal, Wildlife & Marine Mammal Welfare; and
- Defender Service Honorees, 2021 & 2022 Finalists, giving those groups a second chance to win.
Through July 21, 2023, Defender Service Awards will accept video nominations from worthy organizations aligning with one of the six categories.
To enter, organizations must submit a video and be U.S. 501(c)(3)organization, or a Canadian registered charity whose efforts fall within one of the six categories outlined in the program.Monetary Awards
Chase bank, the presenting sponsor, will donate $5,000 to each of the 30 category finalists.
Category sponsors, including Hearts & Science, Pelican, Outside Interactive, Inc., ei3 and Animal Planet will donate $25,000 to the respective category winners.
New for the 2023 Defender Service Awards, Warner Bros. Discovery joins as a Premier Sponsor, donating $2,500 to each of the 30 category finalists.
Each of the winning organizations across the categories will be empowered to further their mission with the receipt of a fully customized Defender 130 vehicle.
Featuring three rows of seating for up to eight people, along with 88.9 cubic feet (2,516 litres) of load capacity, the Defender 130 vehicle is fully capable of assisting these organizations with their mission of service.
Winners will work with the Defender team to fully outfit their vehicle with Defender accessories required for their organization’s needs, along with a custom exterior vehicle wrap.
Click here for information on rules on the Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase.
Or visit www.landroverusa.com or www.landrover.ca
The Defender Service Awards have changed significantly from previous years.
In 2022, seven vehicles were awarded, one for each decade of the Land Rover brand, but no money awards. This year, the corporate partners will make an additional impact, with money awards.
Keep reading for what we published here in 2022.
The Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards giveaway is in honor of the 70-year-history of the Land Rover brand, and the company is giving away one specially-outfitted rugged Defender model for each decade, to help seven organizations further their charitable efforts.
Eligible organizations must be a U.S.-based 501(c)(3)1 non-profit whose efforts fall into one of these seven categories:
- Search and Rescue,
- Coastal and Marine Conservation,
- Animal Welfare,
- First Responders,
- Environmental,
- Urban Improvement
- Fire Services.
Anybody can nominate a non-profit charity, or non-profits can nominate themselves by filling out the entry form and submitting video up to three-minutes long that shares what the charity is about, how it addresses community needs, and how the Land Rover Defender will help to further that effort.
Land Rover is accepting video nominations here through July 7, 2021 for organizations making a difference
There are rolling application dates, depending on the category.
Starting with Search and Rescue and Coastal and Marine Conservation, Land Rover will call for entries through Wednesday, April 7, 2021 before opening submissions for the next categories.
Once selected by a panel of qualified judges, finalists’ videos will be posted on the Land Rover website for public voting before submissions for the next categories take place.
All winners will be announced on September 2, 2021.
| Categories | Submissions Open | Submissions Close | Finalists Selection | Public Voting | Winners Announced |
| 1. Search & Rescue 2. Coastal and Marine Conservation | March 9, 2021 | April 7, 2021 | April 8 – 16, 2021 | April 21 – May 3, 2021 | Sep. 2, 2021 |
| 3. Animal Welfare 4. First Responders | May 3, 2021 | June 1, 2021 | June 2-11, 2021 | June 16 – 28, 2021 | Sep. 2, 2021 |
| 5. Environmental 6. Urban Improvement 7. Fire Services | June 28, 2021 | July 27, 2021 | July 28 – Aug. 6, 2021 | Aug. 11-23, 2021 | Sep. 2, 2021 |
“Defender vehicles have been used for various humanitarian causes around the world for decades and with its recent return to the U.S., we wanted to expand on that legacy with ‘The Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards’ and celebrate organizations that know the value of community and drive to do great things with them,” said Joe Eberhardt, President & CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America.
“Over this past year, we have been inspired by the endless acts of service from people who embody the Above and Beyond spirit of Land Rover, and we’re excited to reward these individuals with new customized Defender vehicles so they can continue to help those around them.”
With a nod to the historic Land Rover Defender, the New Defender is the toughest and most capable Land Rover vehicle yet, combining a new body structure with all-new technologies and legendary engineering to create a Defender fit for the 21st century.
The 2021 Land Rover Defender 110 is on sale now in the U.S. and is priced from $50,500.
The Defender 90 body style is also on sale now in the U.S. and priced from $46,100.
Configure your Defender at www.landroverusa.com/Defender.
About Land Rover
Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For over 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road.
Today’s Land Rover lineup includes the Defender; Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs.
About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car marques.
In 2020, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,974 vehicles in 127 countries.
A British company at heart, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and a Battery Assembly Centre opening soon.
JLR also has vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of the company’s seven technology hubs are in the UK – Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London – with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), the premier organization of automotive journalists, manufacturers and their representatives.
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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