Many U.S. non-profit organizations go the extra mile without so much as a smidge of recognition. Land Rover wants to change that. The Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards will celebrate those charities that make a positive impact in their local community by gifting seven organizations customized Land Rover Defenders to use in their efforts.

Here’s how it works. Organizations must be U.S.-based and have achieved 501(c)(3) non-profit status. The organization’s efforts must fall within at least one of seven categories:

• Search and rescue
• Coastal and marine conservation
• Animal welfare
• First responders
• Environmental
• Urban Improvement
• Fire services

To enter, a charity can be nominated by a member of the community or self-nominate. To complete the nomination process, a form must be filled out. It can be found here. Additionally, a video, up to three minutes in length, that shares what the charity is about, how it addresses a need in the community, and how a Defender would further the charity’s efforts, is required to be submitted.

Once selected by a panel of qualified judges, finalists’ videos will be posted on Land RoverUSA.com for public voting before submissions for the next categories take place.

Land Rover will call for entries through Wednesday, April 7, category by category. Here is the timeline for entry:

• Search and Rescue
  • Submissions open: March 9, 2021
  • Submissions close: April 7, 2021
  • Finalists selection: April 8-16, 2021
  • Public voting: April 21- May 3, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
  • Submissions open:
• Costal and Marine Conservation
  • Submissions open: March 9, 2021
  • Submissions close: April 7, 2021
  • Finalists selection: April 8-16, 2021
  • Public voting: April 21 – May 3, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
• Animal Welfare
  • Submissions open: May 3, 2021
  • Submissions close: June 1, 2021
  • Finalists selection: June 2-11, 2021
  • Public voting: June 16-28, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
• First Responders
  • Submissions open: May 3, 2021
  • Submissions close: June 1, 2021
  • Finalists selection: June 2-11, 2021
  • Public voting: June 16-28, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
• Environmental
  • Submissions open: June 28, 2021
  • Submissions close: July 27, 2021
  • Finalists selection: July 28- August 6, 2021
  • Public voting: August 11-23, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
• Urban Improvement
  • Submissions open: June 28, 2021
  • Submissions close: July 27, 2021
  • Finalists selection: July 28- August 6, 2021
  • Public voting: August 11-23, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 2, 2021
• Fire Services
  • Submissions open: June 28, 2021
  • Submissions close: July 27, 2021
  • Finalists selection: July 28- August 6, 2021
  • Public voting: August 11-23, 2021
  • Winners announced: September 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.