Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association announced Friday that 21 Butler County groups will receive between $250 to $2,000 as part of the 2019 grants distributed by the association.

This announcement marks the fourth consecutive year the association, which owns Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, has given back to the community.

“Our organization has made a commitment to support other local nonprofit organizations because we want our volunteers to see that their efforts not only make the festival successful, but they make a positive impact on our community,” said Todd Wagner, president of the association. “Since 2016, we have given $93,500 in gifts to a wide-variety of nonprofit groups, and we know that these contributions make a huge difference in providing much needed services throughout Butler County.”

The Association’s board of directions selected the following organizations from more than 50 applicants: Butler County Humane Society; Butler AM Rotary Charities; Butler County American Legion Riders; Butler County Children’s Center; Butler County Habitat for Humanity; Butler County Soccer Association; Butler County Symphony Association; Butler Downtown; Butler Golden Tornado Hockey Association; Butler Little Theatre; Butler Meals on Wheels Inc.; Community Health Clinic of Butler County; Critical Incident Stress Management Team of Butler County; EDCO Park Foundation; Kid’s Innovation Playground; March of Dimes; Mars Area History and Landmarks Society; Moraine, McConnells Mill, and Jennings Commission (3MJC); Robin’s Home Inc.; Society of St. Vincent de Paul Butler District Council; and The Arc of Butler County.

Omix-ADA, the world’s largest independent Jeep parts manufacturer and a premier sponsor for the annual summer festival, provided the donation for Habitat for Humanity by selling merchandise at its booth during the festival. The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association also donated to Butler County’s Community Care Connections organization. The funds came from a portion of the entry fee for the festival’s Bantam Proving Grounds Jeep Pull activity.

In addition to the grants, festival organizers also provided more than $23,000 to other local organizations that helped execute the 2019 festival. Over the past four years, more than $81,000 was paid to nonprofit organizations for their assistance during the three days of the event.

The 2019 organizations include: 377th Engineer Company/Butler Reserve Unit; Butler American Legion Riders; Butler County Symphony Association; Butler Health Clinic; Butler Masonic Lodge #272; Butler Outdoor Club; CB Rangers; Civil Air Patrol; Community Care Connections; Compeer Corps; Heritage Region Jeep Alliance; Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission; Rodfathers of Butler; and Slippery Rock Fire Department in Lawrence County.

Formed in October 2015, the group includes more than 50 volunteers who work together to plan and execute the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which attracts more than 2,500 Jeeps to Butler County each June to celebrate Butler’s notoriety as the birthplace of the Jeep.

The 10th annual festival will be held June 12 to 14. Anyone wishing to get involved can email Info@Bantam.org or call 724-256-4050.