(MAHWAH, N.J.) – August 2, 2023, – Land Rover announced the launch of its third annual ‘Defender Service Awards’ presented by Chase, to celebrate and support U.S. non-profit and Canadian-based charitable organizations that are making a positive impact on their local communities. Missions of eligible organizations must align to one of the 6 contest categories: Animal, Wildlife, & Marine Mammal Welfare; Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach; Community Services; Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services; Outdoor Accessibility & Education, Defender Service Honorees, 2021 & 2022 Finalists.

Partners Brands have joined the third annual Defender Service Awards to further recognize the incredible works of service of these organizations. Chase, as presenting sponsor, will be donating $5,000 to each of the 30 finalists, a total of $150,000. Warner Bros. Discovery, a premier sponsor, will be donating an additional $2,500 to each of the 30 finalists, a total of $75,000. The winning Outdoor Accessibility & Education charity will receive $25,000 from Outside Interactive, Inc., the parent company of Outside Magazine, for a total of $32,500 to help further its efforts within Outdoor Accessibility & Education. This new category is defined by organizations promoting increased accessibility and education of the outdoor lifestyle (e.g. nonprofits who provide accessibility to outdoor recreational activities, adaptive sports programs, under-resourced youth outdoor recreational programs, conservation and environmental education, youth-based conservation, and outdoor immersion programs). Other category sponsors will also be donating $25,000 to the winners of their respective categories. 

In addition to the monetary prizes, 6 custom Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles will be awarded to each of the category winners. The Defender 130 vehicle is all new for 2023, featuring 3 rows of seating for up to eight people, along with 88.9 cubic feet (2,516 liters) of load capacity. The Defender 130 vehicle is fully capable of assisting these organizations with transporting animals, gear, volunteers, and more. Winning organizations will have the opportunity to outfit their vehicle with select Land Rover accessories, along with a custom exterior design wrap.

“After growing the ‘Defender Service Awards’ over the last two years, we are honored to continue the legacy of recognizing organizations that make a difference in their communities,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “This year, along with our presenting sponsor CHASE, premier sponsor Warner Bros. Discovery, and category sponsors, we will be able to reward non-profits with customized Defender 130 vehicles and monetary donations to help further their causes.”

“Advocating for a more accessible and inclusive outdoors is at the core of everything we do, and so we’re thrilled to partner with Land Rover this year on this great initiative,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Interactive, Inc. “We’re proud to sponsor this year’s Outdoor Accessibility & Education category and help the winning organization make even more of an impact in getting everyone outside.”

Entrants can nominate organizations or organizations can nominate themselves by filling out the entry form and submitting an up to three-minute video that details the organization’s mission, how it addresses a need in their community and how the Land Rover Defender will help to further their efforts (entries accepted through July 21, 2023). Once selected by a panel of qualified judges, finalists’ videos will be posted on Land RoverUSA.com and www.landrover.ca for public voting from September 15 through October 4, 2023. All winners will be announced in November.    

Last year’s ‘Defender Service Awards’ winners include Appalachian Bear Rescue for the Animal Welfare Award, Green Lake Association for the Environmental and Conservation Award, Mercy Chefs for Community Services Award, Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue for the Search and Rescue Award, and Patriot Service Dogs for the Veterans Outreach Award. Each organization was gifted a customized Land Rover Defender 130 to help further their community outreach efforts. 

For information on the ‘Defender Service Awards’ presented by Chase, please visit LandRoverUSA.com or www.landrover.ca or follow @LandRoverUSA/@LandRoverCanada on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

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1.  Organizations must be a US 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or Canadian charitable organization in one of the six (6) Categories specified, be approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, charitable organization as of July 21, 2023, and maintain its tax-exempt status (i.e., good standing) until the end of the Contest Period. The US 501(c)(3) must be a public charity or a private operating foundation, but not a private foundation 

2.  All prices shown are Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes $1,350 destination and delivery, tax, title, license, and retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. See your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for details. 

3.  Information and rules on the ‘Defender Service Awards’ presented by Chase can be found here and Canadian rules here.

Contact:

Joe Stauble
PR & Communications Manager – Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

201-264-5991

jstauble@jaguarlandrover.com

Jeff Ehoodin
Senior PR Specialist – Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

551-772-0726

jehoodin@jaguarlandrover.com

Note to Editors:

Information about Land Rover North America products is available to consumers at www.landroverusa.com or www.landrover.ca. Visit us.media.landrover.com for news releases, high-resolution photographs and broadcast quality video footage. Additional media updates are available on Facebook (LandRoverUSA) and Twitter (@interactivelr).

About Land Rover

Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs and engineers 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. For more information, visit the official Land Rover websites for the USA, www.landroverusa.com or for Canada, www.landrover.ca.

About Jaguar Land Rover: Reimagining the future of modern luxury by design

Jaguar Land Rover is reimagining the future of modern luxury by design through its distinct, British brands.

Our current model range embraces fully electric and mild-hybrid vehicles, as well as the latest gasoline engines. Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are in demand around the world and in Fiscal 2020/21 we sold 439,588 vehicles in 127 countries. Land Rover is the global leader of luxury SUVs through its three families of Range Rover, Discovery and Defender. Jaguar is the first ever brand to offer a premium all-electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE.

At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and a Battery Assembly Centre in the UK. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of our seven technology hubs are in the UK – Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London – with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Shanghai, China.

Central to our Reimagine strategy is the electrification of both the Land Rover and Jaguar brands with two clear, distinct personalities. All Jaguar and Land Rover nameplates are anticipated to be available in pure electric form by the end of the decade. This marks the start of the company’s journey to become a net zero carbon business across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors since 2008, Jaguar Land Rover has unrivalled access to leading global players in technology and sustainability within the wider Tata Group.

About Outside

Outside is the premier destination for active lifestyle enthusiasts and home to leading brands in the endurance sports, outdoor, and healthy living spaces. Each month, Outside reaches 70 million of the most active consumers in the world across its 30+ media, digital, and technology platforms, creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started. Outside believes life is best spent outdoors, experiencing healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives. Outside’s membership offering, Outside+, bundles best-in-class storytelling, meal plans, gear reviews, online courses, discounted event access, magazines, and more. Learn more at OutsideInc.com.