What Are the Land Rover Defender Service Awards? Meet 2026 Finalist SOS Outreach
The Defender Service Awards recognize nonprofits making an extraordinary impact in their communities. Here’s how the program works, why it matters, and why SOS Outreach is honored to be a 2026 finalist.
VOTE FOR SOS HERE: https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/index.html
Every year, nonprofit organizations across North America tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges—from expanding outdoor access and protecting wildlife to supporting veterans and strengthening local communities. The Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase, were created to celebrate those organizations and provide funding and resources to help them grow their impact.
For 2026, SOS Outreach is proud to be named one of just 30 finalists selected across six award categories—and one of only five finalists nationwide in the Outdoor Accessibility & Education category.
Here’s what the Defender Service Awards are, how they work, and why this recognition matters for the thousands of young people SOS Outreach serves each year.
What Are the Defender Service Awards?
The Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase, are an annual program created by the Defender brand to recognize nonprofit organizations making meaningful contributions to their communities across North America.
Now in its sixth year, the awards celebrate organizations working in six areas of impact, including:
Outdoor accessibility and education
Community services
Search and rescue
Animal welfare
Veteran and civil servant outreach
Defender Service Honorees (past finalists)
Each finalist receives a $5,000 donation from presenting partner Chase. Public voting then determines one winner in each category, with every winner receiving:
$30,000 in grant funding
A customized Land Rover Defender 130 designed to support their mission
Since launching in 2021, the Defender Service Awards have invested more than $1.5 million in nonprofit organizations across North America.
Why SOS Outreach Was Selected
SOS Outreach was selected as a finalist in the Outdoor Accessibility & Education category for its work helping young people build confidence, leadership, and belonging through mentorship and outdoor adventure.
Since 1993, SOS Outreach has created opportunities for more than 80,000 young people to experience the outdoors while developing lifelong skills through positive relationships with adult mentors.
Today, SOS serves more than 3,900 youth annually across multiple states, including 600 young people in Park City, Utah.
The organization works to remove barriers that often prevent youth from accessing outdoor recreation. Among the young people served each year:
69% identify as youth of color
43% come from households earning less than $40,000 annually
Through skiing, snowboarding, mentoring, leadership development, and social-emotional learning, participants gain confidence that extends well beyond the mountain.
Why Outdoor Access Matters
For many families, outdoor recreation can feel out of reach.
The cost of equipment, transportation, lift tickets, and lessons often creates barriers that prevent young people from experiencing the benefits of spending time outside.
SOS Outreach exists to change that.
By partnering with mountain resorts, volunteers, schools, and community organizations, SOS helps ensure that cost is never the reason a young person misses the opportunity to discover confidence, belonging, and a lifelong connection to the outdoors.
The Defender Service Awards recognize organizations creating exactly this kind of lasting community impact.
How the Public Voting Works
Unlike many nonprofit awards, the winners of the Defender Service Awards are determined through public voting.
Voting opens July 29 and runs through August 14, giving supporters the opportunity to help their favorite nonprofit earn additional funding and a customized Defender 130 vehicle.
Supporters can vote once per day throughout the voting period.
For SOS Outreach, every vote helps bring the organization one step closer to additional resources that would expand access to outdoor mentorship for more young people.
How Would SOS Outreach Use the Award?
If selected as the winner, SOS Outreach would receive:
A customized Defender 130 vehicle
$30,000 in grant funding
These resources would help expand access to outdoor programs while ensuring that financial barriers never prevent young people from participating.
Reliable transportation is critical for delivering equipment, supporting mentors, and connecting youth with life-changing outdoor experiences across the communities SOS serves.
Combined with grant funding, the award would directly strengthen SOS Outreach’s ability to provide mentorship, leadership development, and outdoor access for years to come.
Meet the Outdoor Accessibility & Education Finalists
SOS Outreach is honored to be recognized alongside four outstanding nonprofit organizations committed to expanding outdoor access:
National Ability Center (Park City, Utah)
RuckusRoots (Los Angeles, California)
Spirit North (Canmore, Alberta)
SOS Outreach (Park City, Utah)
Special Olympics Missouri (Jefferson City, Missouri)
Together, these organizations demonstrate how the outdoors can create opportunities for learning, confidence, health, and belonging for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
How You Can Support SOS Outreach
Community support plays a vital role in helping organizations like SOS Outreach continue their work.
You can make a difference by:
Voting for SOS Outreach during the Defender Service Awards public voting period.
Becoming a volunteer mentor.
Making a charitable donation.
Sharing the campaign with friends, family, and coworkers.
Every vote and every act of support helps create more opportunities for young people to discover what’s possible through mentorship and outdoor adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Defender Service Awards?
The Defender Service Awards are an annual nonprofit awards program presented by Chase that recognizes organizations creating meaningful impact across North America.
How many nonprofits are selected?
Thirty finalists are chosen across six award categories.
What do the winners receive?
Each category winner receives a customized Defender 130 vehicle and $30,000 in grant funding.
Why was SOS Outreach selected?
SOS Outreach was recognized for its work expanding outdoor access and providing long-term mentorship that helps young people build confidence, resilience, and leadership.
When does voting take place?
Public voting runs from July 29 through August 14, with supporters able to vote once each day.
Help More Young People Experience the Outdoors
Being named a finalist for the 2026 Defender Service Awards is an incredible honor, but the true reward is the opportunity to expand access to mentorship and outdoor adventure for even more young people.
Every vote helps support that mission.
Whether you vote, volunteer, donate, or share our story, you’re helping ensure that more youth have the chance to build confidence, discover belonging, and experience the life-changing power of the outdoors.
Vote for SOS Outreach beginning July 29 and help bring this incredible opportunity to the next generation of outdoor leaders.