The Station Foundation Named Finalist in 2024 “Defender Service Awards”

Mahwah, NJ – September 16, 2024: Today, The Station Foundation was announced as a finalist in the Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Category in the fourth annual ‘Defender Services Awards’ presented by CHASE. The awards showcase the British adventure brand’s longstanding commitment to aiding and honoring organizations who serve their communities. Each of the 25 U.S. non-profit and Canadian registered charities across five categories reflect the Defender brand’s enduring commitment to bringing positive impact to communities through acts of service and humanitarian efforts around the world.

Established in 2012, The Station Foundation has become a crucial stop on the journey home for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans. Through immersive programs hosted in Bozeman, MT, the organization serves SOF service members, spouses, children, and Gold Star Children, holistically addressing the unique challenges faced by this quiet community.

Kevin Stacy, Executive Director, said: “At The Station, we know firsthand the enduring and often unspoken challenges facing our Special Operations Community, and for over a decade, we’ve delivered genuine healing and support to thousands of these Warriors and Families. Earning the Defender Service Award would be an absolute game-changer for The Station. The Land Rover Defender 130 perfectly suits Montana’s rugged terrain and provides the power to navigate the difficult landscape of Homecoming. Land Rover’s generosity and support empowers The Station to present more opportunities to more families in need. Without question, matching our Nation’s Quiet Defenders with the excellence and performance of Land Rover is a beautiful partnership committed to those who give so much and seek no recognition.”

Public voting, which will take place from October 2nd, 2024, through October 17th, 2024, will ultimately decide the winning organizations for each category. The winning organizations will each receive a new Defender 130 vehicle that will be fully customized to best address their needs, and awarded $25,000 by their category sponsor, empowering them to further their missions.

Built for purpose. The Defender 130 is equipped with three rows of seating for up to eight volunteers and ample space with 88.9 cubic feet (2,516 liters) of load capacity to enhance each charities’ efforts. The winning organization will be able to customize their vehicle with robust Defender accessories that will meet the challenges of their mission, along with a custom exterior vehicle wrap.

Corporate partners have joined this initiative to provide further support for the respective organizations across the different categories. CHASE, as presenting sponsor, will donate $5,000 to each of the five finalists per category, for a total of $150,000 across 30 finalists. A new premier partner, S&P Global has joined as a sponsor of the awards program. Category sponsors include OUTSIDE Interactive Inc., ei, PELICAN, Hearts & Sciences and Disney. Each category sponsor will also donate $25,000 to its respective category winner.

Sam Allen, Defender U.S. Brand Director, said: “Each year we are incredibly inspired by the video submissions for the Defender Service Awards from organizations throughout North America and their tireless acts of service for their communities. This initiative is a reflection on the Defender brand’s commitment to supporting and furthering humanitarian efforts across the globe.”

A sixth category, Defender Service Honorees, is designed for past 2021-2023 finalists who have been given a second chance to win a custom Defender 130 vehicle. These worthy organizations did not win their category, however their continued support of their communities and need for a capable vehicle warrants a second chance.

Public voting will take place from October 2nd, 2024, through October 17th, 2024, to determine the ultimate winners of the six categories of the 2024 Defender Service Awards. To view the finalist videos and vote, please visit Defender Service Awards at https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/index.html

The winning organization from each of the six categories will be announced at this year’s Destination Defender event. Encouraging participants to embrace the impossible, the weekend celebration will take place from November 22-24, 2024, at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, and will feature Defender experiences that channel the adventurous spirit of the brand. A special evening celebration on November 23rd will be held to announce the six winning organizations.

The Defender family of models, 90, 110, 130, continues to expand and evolve to suit the many uses by their owners. Defender OCTA, the new high‑performance hero will be available in North America for the 2025 model year. Featuring a V8 Twin Turbo, producing 636hp, 6D Dynamics Air Suspension, and active exhaust system, Defender OCTA will offer an unparalleled breadth of capability, comfort and composure, whether on‑road or off‑road.  New for 2025 model year, optional second‑row Captain Chairs are available in the Defender 130 to provide comfort and luxury with aisle access to the spacious third row.

To learn more about the 2024 Defender Service Awards, please visit https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events‑and‑sponsorships/defender‑service‑awards/index.html