Defender Service Awards: FINALIST

CATALYST SPORTS NAMED FINALIST FOR THE 2025 DEFENDER SERVICE AWARDS, PRESENTED BY CHASE

• Defender proudly announces 25 finalists across five categories for the 2025 Defender Service Awards, presented by CHASE 

• As presenting partner, CHASE is awarding $5,000 to each of this year’s finalists to aid the impactful work of these nonprofit and charitable organizations

• Catalyst Sports of Atlanta, GA  has been selected as a finalist in the Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award – Presented by Outside Interactive Inc.

• Winners of the Defender Service Awards will be determined by public vote, open from October 3-19, 2025, with six category winners to receive a new Defender 130 vehicle and $30,000 thanks to the generosity of sponsors

• Award sponsors including Presenting Partner Chase, Premier Partner Artemis, and Category Sponsors ei3, Disney, Hearts & Science, Pelican, Outside Inc and S&P Global

• Winners will be announced at Destination Defender on November 15, 2025 in Temecula, California

Mahwah, NJ – September XX, 2025:  Today, Catalyst Sports Inc. was announced as a finalist in the Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award – Presented by Outside Interactive Inc. in the fifth annual Defender Service Award presented by CHASE.

DEFENDER, the original British adventure brand, is recognized across the globe for inspiring humanitarian action, conservation and adventure. The Defender Service Awards, Presented by Chase, honors nonprofit and charitable organizations who embody the spirit of Defender and is proud to announce this year’s category finalists. Exemplifying the Defender brand’s ongoing commitment to driving meaningful change through service and humanitarian efforts, these 25 nonprofit and charitable organizations across the US and Canada are making a significant impact to aid and serve those in need. 

CATALYST SPORTS is a chapter based nonprofit organization giving people with physical disabilities access to the life-changing impact of adventure within a supportive and inclusive community in 14 locations across the Southeast. With cutting-edge adaptive equipment and a dedicated network of staff and volunteers, Catalyst Sports opens access to climbing, cycling, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking opportunities, helping participants reach new heights, build confidence, and connect deeply with their communities.

Sam Allen, U.S. Brand Director, Defender, said: “As we celebrate five years of the Defender Service Awards, we continue to be inspired by the missions and people of nonprofit and charitable organizations across North America. Their unwavering dedication to service reflects the spirit of the Defender brand and our commitment to supporting those who drive real change in their communities.”

Eric Gray, Executive Director of Catalyst Sports, said: “We are deeply honored to be recognized as a finalist in this year’s Defender Service Awards. This acknowledgment reinforces our mission to break down barriers to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. It’s not just about access, it’s about creating a world where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom, and empowerment that comes from being active in the outdoors.”

The finalists across five categories are:

Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare Award – Presented by Disney

• HIT Living Foundation – Toluca Lake, CA

• Marine Mammals of Maine – Brunswick, ME

• The Gentle Barn – Santa Clarita, CA

• Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society – Vancouver, BC

• WildCare Oklahoma – Noble, OK

Community Services Award – Presented by ei³

• Feeding Northeast Florida – Jacksonville, FL

• Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula – Pacific Grove, CA

• Meta House, Inc. – Milwaukee, WI

• Red Feather Development Group – Flagstaff, AZ

• The Food Brigade – Paramus, NJ

Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services Award – Presented by Pelican

• Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps – Ringoes, NJ

• Boulder Emergency Squad – Boulder, CO

• Chilliwack Search & Rescue – Chilliwack, BC

• Pemberton Search & Rescue – Pemberton, BC

• Sunshine Coast Search & Rescue – Sechelt, BC

Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach Award – Presented by Hearts & Science

• Combat Recovery Foundation – Loveland, CO

• Jason’s Box – Paris, KY

• Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans – St. Paul, MN

• Project Sanctuary – Pagosa Springs, CO

• Shelter to Soldier – San Diego, CA

Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award – Presented by Outside Interactive Inc.

• Adaptive Adventures – Westminster, CO

• Catalyst Sports Inc. 

• City Kids Wilderness Project, Inc. – Washington, DC

• North Carolina Adapted Sports – Cary, NC

• Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada – Dorval, QC

A sixth category, Defender Service Honorees, recognizes past finalists from 2021 to 2024 and gives them another opportunity to win a custom Defender 130 vehicle and award funding. While these organizations did not win in their original categories, their ongoing impact and continued need for a capable vehicle make them strong candidates for a second chance at winning. 

Category winners will be determined by a public vote, open from October 3-19, 2025. To learn more about The Defender Service Awards, watch the finalists’ videos and cast your vote, please visit https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/index.html 

Each winner will receive a customized Defender 130 vehicle tailored to their needs, along with a $30,000 award to help advance their mission. The purpose-built Defender 130 vehicle will aid the winning organizations with its off-road capability and go-anywhere spirit, including features such as Terrain Response, 8,200 lbs of towing capacity¹, 89 cubic feet of cargo space, seating for up to 8, wading depth of 35.4 inches² and 11.5 inches of ground clearance to traverse the most challenging terrain.

Winners of the 2025 Defender Service Awards will be announced the evening of November 15, during a special evening celebration at Destination Defender. Held at Galway Downs in Temecula California, November 14-16, 2025, Destination Defender is a weekend festival of the Defender lifestyle. Owners and enthusiasts can participate in the Defender Drive Experience, where they will test their off-roading skills on a challenging trail excursion. The weekend also features multiple stages of live music, culinary experiences, wellness activities and more. Camping and glamping options are available for those who prefer sleeping under the stars.  To learn more about Destination Defender, please visit: https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/destination-defender.html

For information on the Defender Service Awards presented by CHASE, visit https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/index.html

Catalyst Sports Mission: to give people with physical disabilities access to the life-changing impact of adventure within a supportive and inclusive community.

ENDS

¹ Never tow beyond a vehicle’s permissible towing capacity. Before towing, please consult the owner's manual or your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for more details. 

² The Wade Sensing feature only detects depth of water the vehicle is in at the present time and not of water ahead or around vehicle. Driver is responsible for determining the conditions of the route being driven.

About Defender

Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable and seriously durable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future.

Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own.

The tough luxury Defender OCTA is the master of extreme performance – taking performance and capability to another level on and off-road. 

A beacon of liberty that can trace its roots back to the first Land Rover in 1948, Defender is a brand that supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust. 

The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover – a mark of trust built on more than 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability.

Defender vehicles are designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar.

Important notice JLR is constantly seeking ways to improve the specification, design and production of its vehicles, parts and accessories and alterations take place continually. Whilst every effort is made to produce up-to-date literature, this document should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications or availability, nor does it constitute an offer for the sale of any particular vehicle, part or accessory. All figures are manufacturer’s estimates.

Further Information 

Joe Stauble

PR Manager JLR North America

jstauble@jaguarlandrover.com

Jeff Ehoodin

Land Rover Senior PR Specialist

jehoodin@jaguarlandrover.com

Media website: https://media.landrover.com/en-us 

Social Channels:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@defender   

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Defender    

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Defender   

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Defender  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@defender

Catalyst Sports Information 

Eric GrayExecutive Director, Catalyst Sportseric@catalystsports.org

Website: https://www.catalystsports.org

Social Channels: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catalystsports 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalyst_sports/ 

X / Twitter: https://x.com/catalystsports 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-sports/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoCatalystSportsorg

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