• by Tanya Gazdik , April 3, 2021

Land Rover is launching service awards including a customized Defender SUV to seven charities making a difference. 

The “Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards” celebrates the seven decades Land Rover has been in existence. 

Land Rover is accepting video nominations from U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose efforts fall within the seven categories: search and rescue, coastal and marine conservation, animal welfare, first responders, environmental, urban improvement and fire services. 

Entrants can nominate a nonprofit charity, or nonprofits can nominate themselves by filling out the entry form and submitting an up to three-minute video. Entrants are asked to share what their charity is about and how it addresses a need in the community and how the Land Rover Defender will help to further the effort.

The automaker is publicizing the awards on its website and social media channels and has created a video to promote the program.

Once selected by a panel of judges, finalists’ videos will be posted on Land RoverUSA.com for public voting. All winners will be announced on Sept. 2.

Defender vehicles have been used for various humanitarian causes around the world for decades, says Joe Eberhardt, president and chief executive officer, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

”Over this past year, we have been inspired by the endless acts of service from people who embody the 'Above and Beyond' spirit of Land Rover,” Eberhardt says in a release. 

The 2021 Land Rover Defender 110 is on sale now in the United States and is priced from $50,500 while the Defender 90 body style is priced from $46,100.