What do you get when you gather people in the name of camaraderie, adventure, and dedication to service? Destination Defender 2023, held earlier this month at Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, Texas. The weekend-long event celebrates the iconic Defender, a vehicle made to embrace the impossible, with a legacy of supporting the people and nonprofit organizations that do the same. That’s why Destination Defender pairs pure adventure with pure selflessness, putting the unsung heroes of our communities front and center where they belong.
During the November weekend, Defender enthusiasts gathered to experience a variety of outdoor activities like kayaking and mountain biking, sample flavorful dishes prepared by special guest chefs, hear live music by top artists like Fitz and the Tantrums, and master off-road skills courtesy of a closed course and a fleet of Defenders.
Just like Defender itself, the weekend was a perfect blend of heart-pumping adventure and refined living—all brought to life over two action-packed days. Each day started with yoga, trail runs, and breakfast burritos, and then rolled right into the high-action activities: off-road driving, fitness challenges, mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. If you wanted to challenge yourself, there were options everywhere you turned. In between, attendees enjoyed interactive cooking demos, slackline performances, panel discussions, and popup jam sessions at the smokehouse. Every evening, the nights filled with concerts and, on Saturday, an epic drone light show.
That’s where the fun starts at Destination Defender, but definitely not where it ends. The gathering also included the much-anticipated announcement of the 2023 Defender Service Awards winners. The Defender Service Awards program, now in its third year, rewards U.S. and Canadian nonprofits that give back to their communities in unique and effective ways. For the six category winners, it’s a game changer: they get a customized Defender 130 and $25,000 cash from the category sponsor. Finalists make out pretty well too, with a $5,000 prize courtesy of presenting sponsor CHASE and $2,500 from premier sponsor Warner Bros. Discovery.
This year, more than 600 organizations submitted video entries for the awards. After an intensely competitive round of public voting, the following nonprofits took top honors at the awards gala on November 11.
Youth Sports Alliance, Utah
Category: Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award, presented by ϳԹ Interactive
Is there anything more important than getting kids outside? The thinks not, because overwhelming evidence shows that active kids do better in life—physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. To that end, the nonprofit provides winter sports programs and scholarships for young athletes in the northern Utah area, benefiting more than 2,000 children each year. And that number is set to grow. With the Defender 130, expanding access to the outdoors gets a lot easier, says Emily Fisher, executive director at Youth Sports Alliance. “Being able to offer transportation and move mountain bikes, skis, and other gear removes a significant barrier to participation,” Fisher says. It will also save on vehicle rental costs, the nonprofit’s biggest expense until now, says Fisher, enabling YSA to put more money into growing programs.
Manitoba Underdogs Rescue, Manitoba
Category: Animal, Wildlife, and Marine Welfare Award, presented by Animal Planet
The good news: This Canadian canine rescue organization helps hundreds of dogs find homes each year. The bad: Conditions can be extreme in the harsh Manitoba winters—and rescuing dogs doesn’t have an off-season. It’s imperative that volunteers can travel safely through snow and cold, says Jessica Hansen, executive director of . The solution: Defender 130, with its adjustable suspension and four-wheel-drive traction, will ensure rescuers can reach dogs in need in all conditions. Plus, says Hansen, “The Defender’s powerful engine and sturdy suspension serve dual purposes for us. When traveling alongside our cargo van, the Defender’s all-wheel drive and horsepower will aid in recovering the van should it fall victim to tricky road conditions. And the vehicle’s robust build can handle the substantial weight of dog food for communities in need.”
Kairos ϳԹs, Florida
Category: Community Services Award, presented by ei3
Empowerment doesn’t get any better than this. This Florida-based group uses art, performance, and music to help participants who are differently abled find their talents and thrive in a welcoming, inclusive environment. The most popular activity every week? “Thursday Serve days,” during which these remarkable people rally to visit nursing homes, work at animal shelters, and support food banks. With the Defender 130’s eight-person capacity, says executive director Heather Subbert, can transport an entire service group and still have room for a wheelchair or walker, thanks to the Defender’s superior cargo capacity.
Squamish Search and Rescue Society, British Columbia
Category: Search, Rescue, and Emergency Support Services Award, presented by PELICAN
For the , reaching people in need is made doubly difficult by the region’s remote, rough backcountry terrain. But that doesn’t stop these SAR experts from trying—and now they’ll be much better equipped to succeed. “We believe that the Defender 130’s advanced off-road capabilities, exceptional ground clearance, and four-wheel-drive system will enable us to navigate challenging terrain more efficiently and reach victims faster and more safely,” says team member Nathalie White. “Ultimately, it will expand our reach to even more remote locations during emergency situations.”
Honour House Society, British Columbia
Category: Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Award, presented by Hearts and Science
In the past, when Canadian veterans came to Vancouver for medical treatment, they struggled to find an affordable place to stay. Now, they can reside at , a free refuge that houses patients and their families. And at Honour Ranch, a remote refuge on 120 acres of primal British Columbian land, veterans get free PTSD treatment. But accessing and managing the ranch requires a dependable all-conditions vehicle, which the nonprofit hasn’t had—until now. With the Defender 130, says volunteer and veteran Dave Hodgson, “I can fix problems like water leaks and frozen pipes without getting stuck myself.”
Charleston Animal Society, South Carolina
Category: 2021 and 2022 Defender Service Award Honoree
The first two years of the Defender Service Awards revealed this truth: there are a lot of nonprofits doing incredible work that’s deserving of a Defender. So a new category in 2023 recognizes finalists from the past two years who were eligible to win a special category recognizing their hard work and dedication. took home the inaugural prize, winning a customized Defender 130. Founded in 1874, Charleston Animal Society was the first animal welfare organization in South Carolina and one of the first in the nation. Its mission has not changed in some 150 years: prevent cruelty to animals. “The vehicle’s all-terrain performance and welcome cargo capacity will help us reach animals in remote areas and transport them to safety,” says Bryant Taylor, the nonprofit’s emergency response and preparedness director. “We are regularly called upon by other animal organizations to help move animals out of harm’s way when they are impacted by cruelty, neglect, dangerous hurricanes, flooding, and other storms,” Taylor explains. “Also, as the nation continues to deal with a nationwide veterinary shortage, we will use the Defender to transport animals in need of medical care.”
Up Next: Award Winner’s Weekend
Now it’s time for each of these deserving nonprofits to meet their customized Defender 130. At Award Winner’s Weekend in early February 2024, at the Land Rover Experience Center at the Biltmore Estate, the six nonprofits will gather for an unveiling of their newly wrapped vehicles. But before they hit the road, they’ll get schooled in off-roading. The winners will complete an immersive off-roading lesson to equip them with all the skills they’ll need to put the vehicles to work serving their communities.
Defender embraces the impossible. A modern-day hero that anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. Learn more at .