The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA) brought additional holiday cheer to eleven Butler County non-profit organizations this month. The selected groups were awarded a total of $20,000 in financial gifts ranging from $500 to $10,000. This is the seventh year that FBJA, owners and organizers of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival and Bantam TrailFest, have given back to the community.

“Our organization has made a commitment to help other local non-profit organizations because we want our volunteers and participants to know that their Festival support makes a positive impact on our community,” said Todd Wagner, president. “This year we directed our largest gift ever to the Bantam Jeep sculpture project that is being organized by the Butler AM Rotary and Butler Downtown.”

FBJA has given nearly $165,000 in gifts to a wide-variety of non-profit groups since 2016. In addition, $155,000 has been given to organizations who help to execute the annual Festival during that time. In total, FBJA has given away nearly $320,000 to Butler County non-profit organizations since 2016.

The Association’s board of directors selected these organizations from the thirty-seven 2023 applicants:

BC3 Education Foundation
Butler AM Rotary Charities
Butler Little Theatre
CB Rangers
CISM Team of Butler County, Inc.
Evans City Historical Society
Friends of Saxonburg Museum
Knights of Columbus Council 866 Butler, PA
MHY Family Services
Robin's Home Inc
Toastmasters

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association was formed in October 2015. It is comprised of more than 80 volunteers who work together to plan and execute the successful Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival which attracts nearly 3,000 registered Jeeps to Butler County each June to celebrate Butler’s notoriety as the birthplace of the Jeep. The 13th annual Festival will be held June 7-9, 2024. Those who wish to get involved in the event can email Info@Bantam.org or call 724-256-4050.