Shelter to Soldier – Honoree in Defender Service Awards – WE NEED YOUR VOTES!
July 27, 2026
POWERING PURPOSE: DEFENDER REVEALS SHELTER TO SOLDIER AS FINALIST FOR 2026 DEFENDER SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED BY CHASE
MAHWAH, NJ – JULY 23, 2026: Shelter to Soldier of San Diego, CA has been announced as a finalist in the Honoree category in the sixth annual Defender Service Awards presented by CHASE.
Defender powers the will to embrace the impossible. Across the globe, the brand inspires humanitarian action, conservation, and adventure. Today, Defender reveals the finalists for the sixth annual Defender Service Awards, presented by CHASE. These organizations embody the unstoppable spirit of Defender. They serve. They impact. They make a difference every day.
Chosen from across North America, these finalists demonstrate determination, commitment and drive. They champion the power of a shared mission. They embrace the impossible. Together, they prove what it means to be unstoppable.
Shelter to Soldier is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “Saving Lives, Two at a Time” by rescuing dogs from local shelters and training them to become service animals for post 9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma, and/or other injuries associated with traumatic service experiences. The organization also places emotional support animals with active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and Gold Star Families. Shelter to Soldier’s Canine Ambassadors, a team of therapy dogs with their volunteer handlers, provide comfort and connection to military members, veterans, and their families through community events and outreach. Most recently, Shelter to Soldier introduced its Morale Dog program which places specially trained rescue dogs aboard United States Navy ships as four-legged crew members to bring companionship, reduce feelings of isolation, and boost spirits among active-duty Navy and Marine personnel during deployments. Together, these initiatives reflect the organization’s ongoing mission to support the mental health and well-being of those who bravely serve our nation, through the unconditional love of dogs.
Paula Gharizi, North America Brand Director, Defender said: “As we celebrate six years of the Defender Service Awards, we remain inspired by the extraordinary work of charitable organizations across North America. Their commitment to uplifting communities and creating lasting impact embodies the spirit of the Defender brand and reinforces our dedication to assisting those who make a difference.”
Kyrié Bloem, Vice President and Cofounder, Shelter to Soldier said: “We are incredibly honored to be named a finalist for the Defender Service Awards. Every rescue dog we save has the potential to become a source of support, confidence, and connection for a veteran or service member in need. A Defender 130 would help us safely transport more dogs, expand our training efforts, and reach even more members of the military community with the healing, hope, and companionship they deserve.”
Each category finalist will receive a $5,000 donation from Presenting Partner CHASE, to support its mission with an opportunity to win a customized Defender 130 vehicle and $30,000 in prize money. The finalists across the categories are:
Animal, Wildlife & Marine Mammal Welfare Award – Presented by Disney
- Pacific Wildlife Care – San Luis Obispo, CA
- West Suburban Humane Society – Downers Grove, IL
- Atlantic Marine Conservation Society – Westhampton Beach, NY
- Helen Woodward Animal Center – Rancho Santa Fe, CA
- Picolini’s Animal Rescue – Miami, FL
Community Services Award – Presented by ei3
- First Baptist Gatlinburg Food Pantry – Gatlinburg, TN
- Fetter Health Care Network – Charleston, SC
- Whistler Community Services Society – Whistler, BC
- Covenant House New Jersey – Newark, NJ
- Living Lakes Canada – Nelson, BC
Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services Award – Presented by Pelican
- Big Horn County Search and Rescue – Basin, WY
- Friends of Custer County Search and Rescue – Custer, SD
- Grey Bull Rescue – Tampa, FL
- West Valley Search & Rescue – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association – McLouth, KS
Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach Award – Presented by WPP
- Got Your Six Support Dogs – Maryville, IL
- Operation Patriots FOB – Ridgeland, SC
- Fox Bravo Overland – Cedar Park, TX
- Oklahoma Veterans United – Tulsa, OK
- Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. – Rochester, NY
Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award – Presented by Outside Inc.
- National Ability Center – Park City, UT
- RuckusRoots – Los Angeles, CA
- Spirit North – Canmore, AB
- SOS Outreach – Park City, UT
- Special Olympics Missouri – Jefferson City, MO
A sixth category—Defender Service Honorees—recognizes past finalists from 2021 to 2025. It offers a second chance to win a custom Defender 130 and vital funding. Their need for a capable vehicle remains. Their missions continue. Their impact is ongoing.
Defender Service Honorees Award – Presented by S&P Global Mobility
- Adaptive Adventures – Westminster, CO
- Bionic Project, Inc. – Cambridge, MA
- Catalyst Sports Inc – Atlanta, GA
- Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana – New Orleans, LA
- Combat Recovery Foundation – Loveland, CO
- HIT Living Foundation – Los Angeles, CA
- Inyo County Search and Rescue – Bishop, CA
- Marine Mammal Care Center of Los Angeles – San Pedro, CA
- Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula – Pacific Grove, CA
- North Carolina Adapted Sports – Cary, NC
- Pemberton Search & Rescue – Pemberton, BC
- Red Feather Development Group – Flagstaff, AZ
- Shelter to Soldier – San Diego, CA
- SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center – Washington Township, OH
- Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue – Sechelt, BC
- The Food Brigade, Inc. – Paramus, NJ
The public decides the winners. Voting opens July 29 and closes August 14. Explore the finalists, watch their stories, and cast your vote at 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 delivers unstoppable off-road capability. It features Terrain Response, 8,200 lbs of towing capacity, and 11.5 inches of ground clearance. It conquers challenging terrain to help these organizations go anywhere and do anything.
Defender will announce the winners of the 2026 Defender Service Awards during a special celebration at Destination Defender on the weekend of September 11.