Defender Service Honorees Award

Operating across 47,000 square kilometers of primarily forested areas in Quebec, Eurêka Search & Rescue is dedicated to finding lost persons through expert search operations. Founded in 2010, the Eurêka team provides vital support during disasters as well as outdoor educational programs for children on wilderness safety. Their efforts are funded entirely by community donations and fundraisers.

For 50 years, FeedMore WNY and its over 370 partner agencies have provided more than 5 million people living in Western New York with nearly 509 million meals. FeedMore's long standing mission is to offer dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to neighbors in need. Their home-delivered meal program and other feeding programs serve 1.4 million meals every year to more than 6,700 vulnerable seniors. The RISE workforce development program offers free job-training for adults, providing skills, experience and opportunities to help neighbors achieve financial self-sufficiency. FeedMore works to ensure that no one, from infants to older adults, goes hungry, fulfilling the goal to feed those who need to be in line today and shorten the line tomorrow.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs raises, trains and donates service dogs to veterans with permanent disabilities. While the cost of a dog with pre- and post-care services is valued around $37,000, Guardian Angels provides them to veterans free of charge. Guardian Angels has paired hundreds of individually trained medical service dogs with deserving recipients across the nation since 2010 with zero suicides.

Heroes Hope is a veteran-led organization dedicated to serving the veteran homeless community in Tulsa and the surrounding areas by offering safe, free, ADA-accessible housing. The organization supports veterans fighting the battle against post-traumatic stress, offering mentorship, resources and a community of other veterans. Heroes Hope is committed to helping struggling veterans set goals, find employment, overcome addiction, work through medical issues, and reconnect with family, guiding them on the right path toward long-term self-sustainability.

Hickory Haven Fawn Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving whitetail fawns in South Carolina a second chance at life. Working closely with the local community, their sister organization Magnolia Fawn Rescue, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, their rescue teams ensure the safe transport, rehabilitation and release of whitetail fawns and deer. To date, Hickory Haven Fawn Rescue has successfully rehabilitated and released over 130 fawns and deer back to the wild.

High Fives Foundation is a California-based, national nonprofit organization whose mission is to focus on preventing life-changing injuries (primarily spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and/or amputation) and provide resources and support if they happen. High Fives supports over 1,000 athletes and veterans (ages 9 to 65+) residing in North America, all of whom have sustained life-changing injuries. The foundation also educates the public on mountain safety, awareness and accident prevention and provides financial support, healing resources, adaptive sporting equipment and safe, free outdoor recreation opportunities to life-changing injury survivors. High Fives helps individuals rediscover their athleticism, their community and their sense of independence by breaking down barriers to access in the great outdoors.

For over 25 years, Higher Ground's mission has been to enhance quality of life through therapeutic recreation and education. Programs combine outdoor recreation activities with therapeutic processes to help all participants confront current struggles and develop skills to find success in daily life. The people with disabilities, as well as the veterans and first responders, who attend Higher Ground programs are more likely to improve their overall health and well-being.

Inyo County Search & Rescue is an all-volunteer nonprofit providing search and rescue services to California’s rugged and sparsely populated Eastern Sierra. Braving extreme weather conditions and diverse geographical terrain, Inyo County Search & Rescue responds to over 50 emergencies per year, from medical emergencies to technical rock and snow rescues.

Kittitas County Search & Rescue (KCSR) is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization trained in search, rescue, recovery and evacuation across 2,300 sq. miles of rugged and challenging terrain. Guided by the motto “so that others may live,” KCSR is a small but dedicated group of volunteers, responding to an average of 80 to 100 missions per year and keeping their community safe. All their equipment and training is solely funded by grants, donations and fundraising. So others may live.

Lending Paws A Hand is a small but ambitious organization on a mission to save the lives of unwanted dogs and cats throughout Lee County, North Carolina. In a state that euthanizes nearly 14,400 animals each year, and where public shelters take in over 120,000 animals, LPAH partners with the rural county shelter and community volunteers to transfer at-risk animals into temporary foster homes and ultimately find them permanent, loving homes where they can live with comfort, care and a second chance. A dedicated vehicle will allow the organization to expand its reach, respond faster in emergencies, reduce dependence on volunteers’ cars and ultimately save more lives.

The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) in Charleston, SC is home to year-round resident dolphins and migrating whales. Their mission is to protect local marine mammals through science, outreach and conservation. LMMN engages hundreds of youth and thousands of community members with over forty outreach events each year. They also serve as the primary first responders to over fifty sick and injured dolphins and whales along coastal South Carolina each year.

The Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles (MMCC) is a leader in the field of marine mammal health and conservation. Since 1992, they have rescued and cared for more than 10,000 marine mammals. MMCC is the only organization that rescues and rehabilitates stranded marine mammals in Los Angeles County year-round, and they rescue more marine mammals per mile of coastline than any other organization in the United States. Their mission is to inspire ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, education and research, and they envision a healthy ocean ecosystem where people and marine life thrive together.

Military Mobility is a nonprofit organization specializing in suicide prevention and increasing health and wellness through overland expeditions and resiliency training for veterans in need, and their families, through free five-day courses of instruction. Their mission is to put veterans back in a team environment that fosters camaraderie, trust, and inspires the realization that any challenge — no matter how great — can be overcome. Military Mobility identified an unmet need to create an inspirational home for higher learning among the veteran community and believes in providing opportunity and instruction where motivated individuals can: jumpstart passion, fuel teamwork, navigate uncertainty, gain traction in leadership, align strategic goals and recover potential.

The National Marine Mammal Foundation has a mission to improve and protect life for marine mammals, humans and our shared oceans. The NMMF rescue team is on call 24/7 to respond to marine mammals in distress, often in remote locations impacted by extreme weather events. The organization recently responded to the urgent call to rescue the most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita porpoise, from extinction. To broaden its impact, the NMMF launched Operation GRACE, Global Rescue of At-Risk Cetaceans & Ecosystems, a community-based conservation approach to save endangered species. The world-class veterinarians, biologists and conservationists are also answering critical questions about the health and welfare of marine mammals worldwide. In every action they take, the NMMF leads with compassion and respect for the animals, which serves as a guiding light as the organization protects their well-being and welfare.

Northwest Battle Buddies (NWBB) gifts professionally trained service dogs to veterans across the nation battling PTSD. During the past 13 years, and at no charge to the veteran, NWBB has gifted 257 service dogs to American heroes. NWBB service dogs are trained to wake veterans up from nightmares, alert on adrenaline to help stop panic attacks, redirect flashbacks, aid in providing balance, provide pressure therapy and more. NWBB is committed to helping veterans become present and active in their families and reintegrate back into their communities.

The Plastic Ocean Project (POP) is a nonprofit based out of Wilmington, North Carolina, with a mission to attain science-based solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, inspiring us all to make informed choices to improve human and environmental health. Through educational programs and community- and volunteer-powered initiatives, POP is dedicated to reducing the amount of plastics in our environment in protection of all life on Earth.

Resources in Search and Rescue (RSAR) is an all-volunteer K9 search and rescue team based in Connecticut. RSAR's mission is to reunite the missing with their loved ones. They respond to lost and injured hikers, lost children, wandering Alzheimer patients, autistic persons, accident victims who have wandered from a scene, victims of natural disasters, drowning victims and clearing fire scenes of victims. The organization's nationally certified K9s and their handlers also provide public education in safe hiking, prevention (Hug a Tree), demonstrations, search management for at-risk populations and training for fire departments, police, scouts and others. RSAR seeks to be of service whenever and wherever the need arises. 24/7, they respond at no cost to the requesting agency. RSAR is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and relies on grants and corporate and community donations to offset its costs.

SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center is a nonprofit animal welfare organization committed to the adoption and care of companion animals. SICSA has served Dayton and surrounding areas for 50 years, adopting over 2,000 animals into loving homes annually. SICSA also provides pet owners in underserved communities with accessible veterinary care, free pet food, foster care for hardships such as homelessness and medical emergencies, and other assistance.

The Travis Mills Foundation (TMF) supports recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. Through a retreat located in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine, veteran families, injured in active duty, receive an all-inclusive, all-expenses-paid, barrier-free experience where they participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veteran families, and enjoy the outdoors. SSG Travis Mills coined the term “recalibrated veteran” after he lost portions of all his limbs in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan. He was injured and healed; he didn’t want to be called a “wounded warrior” — his wounds had healed. He adjusted to his new normal; he recalibrated. In addition to family programming, TMF also hosts Warrior PATHH, the nation’s first-ever program designed to cultivate Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) in combat veterans and first responders. This intensive, peer-led training helps participants transform their struggles into strength by equipping them with lifelong tools for resilience, purpose and thriving beyond trauma.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. For over 36 years, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has promoted independence and furthered equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational activities. They believe sports and recreation provide a physical, mental and social experience that's immeasurable in promoting self-confidence. They offer the largest variety of program opportunities and unique, specialized equipment for sports and recreational activities including alpine/XC skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock/ice climbing, mountain biking, environmental programs, wellness retreats, a free veterans program and more. #sportsforeveryBODY

The Warrior Freedom Service Dogs program is designed to do more than supply a service animal to a disabled veteran. Warrior Freedom Service Dogs helps our veterans reconnect to the purpose-filled life they deserve; one of doing more than they thought possible. One of a restored brotherhood. One of becoming a better brother or sister, son or daughter, father or mother, friend, and contributor to society. The organization strives to give this gift of life and reconnection to the most deserving of all humans in our society: the American soldier. Their focus is on the combat veterans who have returned home from the battlefields with deep physical, mental and emotional wounds that make reconnecting to society a significant struggle. The goal for each veteran who enters the program is to become successful with their new canine life partner.

Warriors Choice Foundation (WCF) is a nonprofit organization providing combat veterans access to individually tailored service dogs and residential programs focused on healing the mind, body and spirituality within a retreat-like setting. Due to the lack of psychosocial support, accessibility, resources, and the stigmatization of mental health issues, veterans have difficulty getting the care they need and deserve. Warriors Choice Foundation serves the needs of transitioning combat veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), mental illness and catastrophic injuries by guiding them along their path to wellness with streamlined services at no cost.

West Place Animal Sanctuary provides lifesaving care, love and a permanent home to farm animals rescued from cases of abuse, neglect and cruelty. They are also a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center that assists sick, injured and orphaned animals and releases healthy wildlife back into their natural habitats. The only organization of its kind in their region, rescue work takes them to locations across New England, saving animals throughout the East Coast and even Texas. Their network of almost 100 volunteers provides essential animal care 365 days a year, and they provide unique hands-on humane educational experiences to high school and college students to cultivate a more compassionate community. Executing this mission requires proper resources so they can continue to be depended on to advocate for those who do not have a voice.