Published May 4, 2026 at 10:10 pm
For the true heroes who save lives and help our communities when they need it most, getting there is half the battle. For decades, the Defender’s legendary capability has empowered humanitarian efforts, helping relief workers navigate rural roads, flood zones, wilderness areas and beyond to deliver critical resources such as medical care, rescue or food in emergency situations. In 2021, Defender adds to this global legacy with the launch of Defender Defender Service Awards Presented by Chase, a program that supports nonprofits with a mission and a presence on the ground, making communities safer, healthier and better for the people who live there.
Now in its sixth year, the program has provided more than $1.5 million and 30 dedicated Defender 130 vehicles to nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and Canada – groups that operate in places where infrastructure is weak and need is high. Here’s how it works: Each year, Defender engages the public (i.e., you) to help identify and nominate organizations with a high impact in six categories. Thanks to Chase, the 30 finalists each receive $5,000, and the winners receive $30,000 each from their category sponsors and a Defender 130 specifically designed to help them expand services.
It all adds up to more than just extra financing and a fun trip. As one past winner said, Defender Service Awards are a “force multiplier” for good.
Designed for work that matters
One of the special things about the Defender Service Awards is the effort to find and reward small, community-based nonprofits. The winners are not organizations with sprawling budgets or national vision. They are deeply rooted groups—such as search and rescue teams, food distribution networks, and wildlife rehabilitators—that can be changed through the reward effect.
Five core categories reflect these values while promoting a variety of services: animal, wildlife and marine mammal care; community services; Search and rescue and emergency support services; Communication with veterans and civilian employees; and outdoor accessibility and education. The sixth category, the Defender Service Honorees Award, recognizes that each year there are many deserving nonprofits, and seeks to give the finalists who did not win a second chance to take home the award.
And this prize – specifically the car – is a game changer. The Defender 130 is customized to fit each winner’s mission. For SAR combinations like the 2025 winner Search and Rescue in ChilliwackThis means transporting cargo for emergency equipment and a temperature-controlled space for medical care. “When every second counts, quick access really matters,” says Tom Pearson, a Chilliwack SAR volunteer.
Previous winners such as Jason box (Veterans and Civilian Employees Awareness) and Starlight Children’s Foundation (Accessibility and Outdoor Education) uses increased towing capacity for boats, equipment and trailers containing adaptable equipment. Feeding Northeast Florida (Community Services) uses the Defender 130 refrigerator to ensure that none of the 94,000 children in their service area goes without a meal. In all cases, ability equals access equals a life changed for the better.
And you can’t argue with the results. Orlando, Florida based 2024 Winner Hope Nathaniel She won for her work providing enrichment, care and comfort to service and education providers of special needs children, adults and their families. In addition to transporting personnel and specialized equipment to activities and events, the colorful Defender 130 has become an essential outreach tool at Make ‘M Smile events across the country, where thousands gather to celebrate and build community for families with special needs.
“It has been an incredible blessing to receive this Defender Award,” says Mary Cook, co-founder and CEO. “We have 380 acres where we’re building Hopetown, and we’ve been tracking work with vendors on our Defender. When complete, the live/work/play community for more than 200 people will provide individual and group housing, job training, enrichment and activities, respite for caregivers, and an agricultural center that people can easily access with Defender.”
Of course, for small nonprofits, funding is always an issue as well. That’s why Defender Service Awards also include a monetary gift. In 2025 alone, the program distributed financial prizes worth $390,000 to category winners and finalists. This kind of infusion can mean hiring new staff, expanding programs, or simply being able to keep volunteers fed and equipped so they can show up day after day.
2025 winners
The fifth annual awards, announced at Destination Defender in California, provided a clear vision of what the best community service looks like, all thanks to the public who voted for the final category winners.
Marine Mammal Rescue Society at Vancouver Aquarium It won the Animal, Wildlife and Marine Mammal Care Award for its response to injured marine life along 16,000 miles of coastline; Previously, 200 volunteers relied on one shared vehicle and covered the gap with personal cars and rentals.
“With its off-road capability, cargo space, and towing capacity, we can respond faster, carry more equipment, and keep our team safer,” says CEO Dr. Martin Holina. “For us, temperature control is not a luxury – it is a necessity. For sea otters and sea turtles, maintaining constant temperatures for transport can mean the difference between life and death.”
“The Defender 130 allows us to go the extra mile to support people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” says Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida. “It ensures the food bank is ready to respond to any situation, even in hard-to-reach neighborhoods.”
Besides servicing the complex logistics of public service and aid, the vehicle itself can cement the bonds that bind neighbors and make communities stronger. This emotional support is difficult to measure, but Jonathan Rothman, a volunteer at Starlight Children’s Foundation, says it’s the best.
“This is not just a truck,” Rothman says. “This will be a trusted colleague who will help us bring joy, accessibility and adventure to the children of Starlight Canada.”
Nominations 2026
Five years later, we’ve helped $1.5 million, 30 vehicles and countless people and animals. This is a lot to celebrate, and there is more to come. the 2026 Defender Service Awards It’s now open for nominations, and you can help. Public engagement is key to identifying and scaling up programs on the front lines, and you will benefit greatly from support.
Does this sound like a great opportunity for your favorite organization or the organization you work for? Go here to join the mission And start the nomination process. The application deadline is June 1, 2026.
Brand Defender Embracing the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable and extremely durable. A modern-day hero who respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each with its own charisma. The powerful luxury Defender OCTA is the master of performance – taking performance and capability to another level on and off-road. Defender is a beacon of freedom whose heritage can trace back to the first Land Rover in 1948, and is a brand that supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust. The Defender brand is based on Land Rover, a trust built on more than 75 years of technology and world-leading off-road capabilities. Defenders are designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR family of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar.
