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Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association to Offer Financial Gifts to Butler County 501C3 Non-Profit Organizations

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Application Deadline is September 30th

 BUTLER, PA (August 20, 2018) –2018 marks the third year that the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association, Inc. (FBJA) will award non-profit gifts to Butler County 501c3 organizations. Gifts totaling $50,000 have already been distributed through the program over the last two years. 

“One of the Association’s core values is Charitable Support/Community Involvement,” said Todd Wagner, FBJA president.  “It’s extremely important to our organization to be able to give back to our community through our financial gifts. Over the last two years our gift recipients have been able to help our community in many different ways which is very rewarding to our group.” 

Application Requirements and How To Apply:

·         Butler County 501c3 non-profit organizations must apply online. The online application, available at http://www.bantamjeepfestival.com/financial-gift-application, must be received no later than September 30th at 5 p.m. 

·         In the application, organizations must explain in 500 words or less how they benefit the community and how any potential funds received will be used. 

·         Applicants must provide proof of non-profit 501c3 status.

·         After gifts are awarded, the recipients will be expected to provide an update on their projects’ progress and/or completion and provide photos to demonstrate the gifts’ impact on their organization.

“The FBJA board of directors will evaluate gift applications and award monies based on the organization’s demonstrated need for the gift and how they benefit the community,” said Wagner. “In 2017, gifts ranged from $500 - $2,500.  A gift of $2,200 will be awarded to an organization selected by FBJA’s membership on behalf of Omix-ADA, a premier Festival sponsor who raised funds by selling select merchandise at the 2018 event.”

Festival Already Helping Local Groups

In addition, the Association has already provided more than $20,000 to other  organizations that helped execute the 2018 Festival.

Those organizations include: 377th Engineer Company/Butler Reserve Unit; Alliance for Non-Profit Resources; Butler American Legion Riders; Butler Masonic Lodge #272; Butler Outdoor Club; Butler County Humane Society; CB Rangers; Civil Air Patrol; Compeer Corps; East Coast Four-Wheel Drive Association; Heritage Region Jeep Alliance; Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission; Rodfathers of Butler; Slippery Rock Fire Department (Butler County); Slippery Rock Fire Department (Lawrence County); and Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department.

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association was formed in October 2015.  It is comprised of more than 50 volunteers who work together to plan and execute the successful Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival which attracts more than 2,000 Jeeps to Butler County each June to celebrate Butler’s notoriety as the birthplace of the Jeep.

Festival FAQ - Addresses, Hours, Etc.

(Above) What the vendor field looks like a week before Bantam! 

(Above) What the vendor field looks like a week before Bantam! 

We’re so excited for you to be joining us in the Birthplace of the Jeep this week!

We are currently on-site setting up and running the event and will have limited access to return emails, calls, Facebook messages, etc. We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions in hopes that these questions are what you are looking for.  During the Festival, you can visit our Information Booth located inside the Spectator gate, or the Registration tent in the Spectator parking lot for assistance. 

Festival at Coopers Lake Campground

  • The Festival takes place at Coopers Lake Campground, 205 Currie Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.  The event is rain or shine.
  • The Festival hours are 9-4 on Friday June 8th, 9-6 on Saturday June 9 & 9-3 on Sunday June 10. 
  • Click here to view the Festival map and schedule.
  • Click here to see what Jeep activities are available for on-site registration. 
  • If you did not order enough wristbands for all of your passengers, you can purchase them at the Registration tent.  Go directly to the tent as soon as you enter the main entrance.
  • Spectators can follow signs to our Admission booths to purchase daily tickets for $10 (adults) and $3 (kids 3-12).
  • Any construction, trail or emergency updates will be sent via a text blast system.  You can sign up by texting BANTAM18 to 84483.

Jeep Invasion in Downtown Butler

  • The Jeep Invasion (Friday, June 8 from 6-10 p.m.) will take place in downtown Butler, PA 16001. You will not be permitted to park earlier than 5 p.m. All Jeeps must be registered to participate in the Jeep Invasion.
  • Click here to view the Jeep Invasion map.
  • There are an extremely limited number of spots remaining for on-site registration.  On-site registration is at Coopers Lake Campground starting at 8 a.m. June 8th. 

Coopers Lake Campground
If you reserved a site at Coopers Lake Campground and need to contact them, their number is 724-368-8710.

If we haven’t answered your question above, please check our FAQ’s.  As noted, we will do our best responding to emails/messages/calls if your question is beyond what is listed above but will have little ability to do so in a timely manner during the event, so please visit us at the Info or Registration tents if you need further assistance. 

We’ll see you soon!!

 

REGISTER YOUR JEEP ON-SITE AT THE FESTIVAL

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If you missed our pre-registration deadline, don’t worry!  You can still be part of one of the most popular Jeep events in the United States.

On-site registration opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 8-10, and closes one hour before the Festival ends each day.  When you arrive at the Festival’s Main Entrance at Cooper’s Lake Campground, simply make the first right turn after you enter the lot and proceed to the large Registration tent (see map for location).  We accept both cash and credit. There is an on-site registration fee of $10.

Additional passenger wristbands can be purchased on-site as well for anyone who will be driving or riding in a Jeep at Coopers Lake. Adults are $20, Minors 7-17 are $10 and Kids Under 7 are Free but MUST be registered for.

These are the activities that still have openings available at on-site registration, along with the cost and number of Jeeps that can still register to participate:

Bantam Proving Grounds Jeep Pull ($20 includes case of Pennzoil 5W20 Platinum and photo of your pull) – 56 openings, various days

Best of Bantam ($25) – 186 openings, Saturday only

Decorate Your Jeep ($5) – 50 openings, Friday only

Fun Stuff (various prices) – 122 openings, various times on Friday and Saturday

Glacial Interpretive Driving Tour ($20) – 22 openings, Sunday (Saturday Sold Out)

Jeep Invasion ($15 includes dash plaque) – 51 openings, Friday night in Downtown Butler (*On-site registration at Coopers Lake)

Jeep Playground/On-Site Trails ($50) – 312 openings, unlimited access all three days

Jeepin’ on the Dunes Trail Ride ($30) – 249 openings, trail ride times vary on Friday and Sunday (Very limited availability Saturday)

Moraine Trail Ride ($25) – 170 openings, trail ride times vary on Friday and Sunday (Saturday Sold Out)

Mystery Road Rally ($30) – 587 openings, various days

Muddy 5K ($35) – unlimited, Sunday morning - *On-site registration from 7:00 - 7:45 a.m.

WingFest ($15 adults, $8.50 kids 4-10) – unlimited, Saturday night, Must purchase online by June 3

 

Babes of Bantam, the Bantam Night Ops Mission and the Jeep Team Challenge are sold out and will not be available for on-site registration.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Bantam!