68 Ventures Raises $155k for Baller Dream Foundation and Donates an Additional $10K to the Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre.

68 Ventures and the Cox Family Foundation hosted the third annual Ballin’ on Belrose event in Olde Towne Daphne on Saturday, May 18, 2024. The 10.5-mile “Everest Challenge” walk/run raised over $155,000, and one hundred percent of funds raised were donated to Baller Dream Foundation.

68 Ventures founder, Nathan Cox, said, “The 3rd Annual Ballin’ on Belrose was certainly not what we expected given the weather challenges, but in hindsight we wouldn’t change a thing. We achieved a new fund-raising record for the Baller Dream Foundation and had more people complete the Everest Challenge than any other year!”

The event concluded noting the following numbers:

• $155,006         Amount raised for the Baller Dream Foundation
• $10,000          Donated to Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre
• 137                   Participants
• 115                   Participants who completed the Everest Challenge

The Eastern Shore Repertory Theater (ESRT) is located in Olde Towne Daphne and has a mission to educate and train local students and present professional-quality theatre experiences for the Eastern Shore community. ESRT provides performance opportunities, summer camps, workshops and so much more to children of all ages throughout Baldwin and Mobile counties and presents two major productions every year. ESRT’s next big show, Annie Jr., will be performed at the Daphne Civic Center this November.  

Ballin’ on Belrose is a walk/run event inspired by the 29029 Everesting Challenge but adapted for the local community. It involves a race up Belrose Avenue and culminates in a street party at the top of the hill with refreshments, music and camaraderie. 

“Our purpose at 68 Ventures is to see all we can do with all we have been given,” said Adam Campbell, 68 Ventures president. “Nathan Cox, our founder and Chairman, leads by example by demonstrating the power of what we can do to help others in this community. We are proud of our fantastic partnership with Baller Dream Foundation and working to help residents throughout Baldwin County.”

Title sponsors of the event included the City of Daphne, LOG Construction, Tower Homes, D.R. Horton, the Pilot Family, Press & Co., and the Cox Family Foundation.

Thank you to our additional sponsors: 

Cunningham Delaney Construction; Byrd Campbell, P.A.; Harvest Capital, LLC; Polysurveying of Mobile, Inc.; Trehern Charitable Foundation; Southeastern Plumbing & Lead Detection, LLC; PTAC Companies; Gene’s Floor Covering; Baldwin County Sewer Service; Jan Reed & Family; WAS Design, Inc.; 68 Ventures Bowl; Hieronymus CPAS, LLC; Kent’s Landscaping; Certapro; TPG Angelo Gordon; Aegis Exteriors; Middleton Construction; JADE Consulting, LLC; The Highland Group; Braxton’s Landscape & Lawncare; Vigilant Gulf Coast, LLC; Tim Edmondson Farms; Meridian Global Consulting; Cost Segregation Services, LLC; Merrill Lynch – Chad Dolan; Rish Real Estate, LLC; AGR Gulf Coast; Ralph Rish; Maynard, Cooper & Gale; Centennial Bank; Justin Law: Strategic Wealth Advantage; Stoic Equity Partners; Century Bank; Mobile Bay Overhead Door; MES; Crucible Construction; Solomon Family; Fine Geddy Government Relations; Hancock Whitney Bank; Bay Periodontics & Implant Dentistry; Kimley-Horn; West Alabama Bank; MatchPoint Development; BankPlus; Seven Seas Ventures; Weather Tech Roofing; WHLC Architecture; Spire; Bethel Engineering, Inc.; Wright Transportation, Inc.; Boeschen Heating & Cooling; Mako Services; Limitless Homes; MH Vertical; Grant Nichols Construction; Advanced Dermatology & Skin Care Center; McCollough Architecture, Inc.; Fern Medical Village; BCC Waste Solutions, LLC; Cooper Fence Company; Harris Stone Works, LLC; National Land Realty; Uniti Fiber; SmartBank; EDYO LLC; Davis, Davis & Associates, P.C.; Robb & Margaret Cunningham; 4:59 Consulting, LLC; Vallas Realty, Inc.; Warrior 360; One in a Row Ventures; McCown Design; The Thrasher Company, LLC; Storing Solutions Self Storage; Kadre Engineering; 4 Lane Development Inc.; Evergreen Siteworks, LLC; and Bob & Melanie Moore.

Photos for the event were taken by Stephen Savage Photography.

The Baller Dream Foundation (BDF) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that lifts the spirits of brave young cancer warriors, ages birth to 25. The young people BDF serves are not called patients but “Ballers.” Baller is a modern-day term suggesting a person is doing well, feeling well, and in control. BDF works closely with children’s hospitals across the country and provides in-hospital, volunteer-led activities to help ease the minds of young warriors and provide support for their families. Baller Dream Foundation supports and assists young cancer warriors and their families through treatment, remission, and the path to a stronger life. For more information, visit ballerdream.org.

68 Ventures Announces Charitable Giving Campaign for the 68 Ventures Bowl Game

68 Ventures is continuing the title sponsor tradition of charitable giving within the local community through a partnership with the annual Mobile, Alabama Bowl game (now the 68 Ventures Bowl). 68 Ventures has donated $40,000 to three local veterans’ groups and one Baldwin County arts program. Each organization received a $10,000 donation.

The 68 Ventures Bowl charitable giving donations were given to:

1. Veterans Recovery Group
2. USS ALABAMA Battleship
3. Equine Veterans Group
4. Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre (ESRT)s

“As a veteran-owned organization, it is a privilege for us to be able to sponsor such amazing veteran groups as Veterans Recovery Resources, the USS ALABAMA Battleship Foundation and Equine Therapy Group. Nathan and I served in the Marine Corps together and our organization is full of many veterans from all branches of service. Supporting veterans is of the utmost importance for 68 Ventures.” 

Adam Campbell, president, 68 Ventures

68 Ventures is continuing the tradition of previous sponsors of the Mobile, Alabama Bowl game of giving to local organizations during the bowl season. Previously, GMAC focused on reading and writing programs, Dollar General supported literacy groups and Lending Tree supported small businesses.

The 68 Ventures Bowl will showcase the city of Mobile, while advancing tourism and providing educational and athletic opportunities to the youth of Mobile. The 25th annual 68 Ventures Bowl will be played on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

68 Ventures Announces $25,000 Donation to the Arts in Baldwin County as part of its 68 Ventures Bowl Sponsorship

November 13, 2023 (Daphne, Ala.) – As the title sponsor for the 68 Ventures Bowl, 68 Ventures is continuing the title sponsor tradition of charitable giving within the local community through a partnership with the annual Mobile, Alabama Bowl game (now the 68 Ventures Bowl) to donate $40,000 to three local veterans’ groups and one Baldwin County arts program. These $10,000 donations are a chance for 68 Ventures to give back to the community to provide support and draw attention to deserving organizations providing important services in our local community.

“I can’t begin to describe the impact that ESRT has had on our family and this entire community. Erin (Langley) and her amazing team continually blow my mind show after show, but the real significance of their passion is the people they shape our kids into. Every quality you’d hope to find in your child, they instill. I truly can’t think of a more deserving arts program to support.”

Nathan Cox, Chairman, 68 Ventures

68 Ventures donated $25,000 in total with $10,000 of that being a part of its 68 Ventures Bowl charitable giving campaign. The other organizations for this charitable donation were Veterans Recovery Resources, the USS Alabama Battleship Foundation and the Equine Therapy Group. All recipient organizations will be recognized during the 68 Ventures Bowl game on Saturday, December 23 and spotlighted on all social media accounts.

The purpose of the donations was to continue the tradition of previous sponsors of the Mobile, Alabama Bowl game of giving to local organizations during bowl season. Previously, GMAC focused on reading and writing programs, Dollar General supported literacy groups and Lending Tree supported small businesses. Being a veteran-owned company, 68 Ventures chose to support local veterans’ groups and a Baldwin County arts program for young adults.

The 25th annual 68 Ventures Bowl will be played on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

68 Ventures Raises Over $138K for Baller Dream Foundation  

April 25, 2023 (Daphne, Ala.):  68 Ventures and the Cox Family Foundation hosted Ballin’ on Belrose in Olde Towne Daphne on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The 10.5-mile “Everest Challenge” walk/run raised over $137,000, and one hundred percent of funds raised were donated to Baller Dream Foundation. 

Ballin’ on Belrose is a pared-down version of an “Everest Challenge,” where participants walk or run up and down Belrose Avenue for a total of 10.5 miles. Saturday’s challenge included eleven total ascents of the hill on Belrose Avenue, with the total uphill distance equaling 29,029 feet – the height of Mount Everest. 68 Ventures added an additional challenge this year for all Baldwin County nonprofits, offering a $10,000 donation to the organization whose participating team members completed the most combined ascents. 

The winner of the nonprofit challenge was Prodisee Pantry, with 147 combined ascents.

The event concluded noting the following numbers:

• $138,223 Amount raised for the Baller Dream Foundation 
• $10,000 Donated to Prodisee Pantry 
• 182 Registered Participants 
• 70 Participants who completed the Everest Challenge, ascending 29,029 ft 

EVEREST CHALLENGE WINNERS

• Andrew Russell – First Place Male 
• Shannah Stamm – First Place Female 
• Gray Clark – First Place Male Kid (12 and under) 
• Madeline Jenkins – First Place Female Kid (12 and under) 
• Greg Bordenkircher – First Place Male Senior (over 55) 
• Shannon Silvernail – First Place Female Senior (over 55) 
• Presley Bordenkircher – Top Dog 

“Our purpose at 68 Ventures is to see all we can do with all we have been given,” said Adam Campbell, 68 Ventures president. “Nathan Cox, our founder and CEO, leads by example by demonstrating the power of what we can do to help others in this community. We are proud of our fantastic partnership with Baller Dream Foundation and working to help residents in Baldwin County.” 

NATHAN COX, CEO

Title sponsors of the event included DR Horton, LOG Construction, the City of Daphne and the Pilot Family/Mobile Baykeeper. 

Thank you to our additional sponsors:  

• Poly Surveying
• Byrd Campbell
• Centennial Bank
• Cunningham Delaney Construction
• Harvest Capital LLC
• BankPlus
• Aegis Exteriors/Fortress Roofing
• Bay Periodontics & Implant Dentistry
• Justin Law: Strategic Wealth Advantage
• Kent’s Landscaping
• MBR LTD/Reed Family
• R&S Paving
• WAS Design Inc.
• Sunrise Dermatology
• Angelo Gordon
• Baker Dolan & Associates
• Merrill Lynch
• Baldwin County Sewer Service
• BCC Waste Solutions LLC
• Braxton’s Landscape & Lawncare
• Century Bank
• Cox Pools
• ELM Inc.
• ESRT
• Fairhope Landing RV Resort
• Gene’s Floor Covering
• JADE Consulting LLC
• Liberty Rent LLC
• Maynard Nexsen
• Middleton Construction
• Rish Real Estate
• Shirlee’s Memorial Fund
• Southeast Plumbing
• Stoic Equity Partners
• Swift Supply
• The Thrasher Company LLC
• Tower Homes
• Vigilant Insurance Partners
• Vigilant/Align Insurance Partners
• West Alabama Bank & Trust
• WinWard Holdings LLC
• Grant Nichols Const
• B/E Business Services LLC
• Blue Water Lumber
• Boeschen Heating & Cooling
• Burton Property Group
• Capitol Building Products
• Cooper Fence Co.
• Crucible Construction
• CSSI (Cost Segregation Services Inc.)
• Dewberry
• Elevated Living Company
• Force 5 Walls Inc.
• Gallo Design / Southern Home Inc.
• Mako Services
• MES
• MH3 Printing
• National Land Realty
• One In A Row Ventures
• Robb and Margaret Cunningham
• Senator Katie Brit
• Seven Seas Ventures
• Southern Dentistry
• The Hale Family
• Weather Tech Roofing
• Wright Transportation
• Gregory M. Sweeney Jr. DMD
• Ammons and Blackman Construction LLC
• BRIM Construction Group Inc.
• Davis, Davis & Associates PC
• Door-N-Gutter Pro Inc.
• DR Horton/Mitchell Residential
• Edmondson Farm Packing
• Harris Stone Works, LLC
• Kimberly Steel
• MH Vertical LLC
• Mobile Lumber & Millwork
• Parker Painting LLC
• Prime Roofing & Restoration\
• S.E. Civil LLC
• SmartBank, Storing Solutions
• The Dudley Family
• Tim Burch
• Tim Edmondson Farm
• Uniti Fiber
• Vallas Realty
• Warrior 360
• Zarzour Companies
• L&M Marine
• ACCESS Magazine
• SOCIAL Magazine
• SOHO Event Rentals
• Sportsman’s Marine
• Lensea Film
• Mobile Bay Overhead Door
• TerraCore Development
• Idea signs and graphics
• Press & Co. 

# # # 

The Baller Dream Foundation (BDF) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that lifts the spirits of brave young cancer warriors, ages birth to 25. The young people served by BDF are not called patients, but “Ballers.” Baller is a modern-day term suggesting a person is doing well, feeling well, and in control.  

BDF works closely with children’s hospitals across the country and provides in-hospital, volunteer-led activities to help ease the minds of young warriors, as well as support for their families. Baller Dream Foundation supports and assists young cancer warrior and their family through treatment, remission, and the path to a stronger life. 

On April 22, 2023, 68 Ventures and the Cox Family Foundation hosted Ballin’ on Belrose to raise funds for the Baller Dream Foundation. 

The 10.5-mile “Everest Challenge” walk/run raised over $137,000, and one hundred percent of funds raised were donated to Baller Dream Foundation. Ballin’ on Belrose is a pared-down version of an “Everest Challenge,” where participants walk or run up and down Belrose Avenue for a total of 10.5 miles. Saturday’s challenge included eleven total ascents of the hill on Belrose Avenue, with the total uphill distance equaling 29,029 feet – the height of Mount Everest. 68 Ventures added an additional challenge this year for all Baldwin County nonprofits, offering a $10,000 donation to the organization whose participating team members completed the most combined ascents. The winner of the nonprofit challenge was Prodisee Pantry, with 147 combined ascents.

The event concluded noting the following numbers: $138,223 Amount raised for the Baller Dream Foundation | $10,000 Donated to Prodisee Pantry | 182 Registered Participants | 70 Participants who completed the Everest Challenge, ascending 29,029 ft.

Everest Challenge Winners: Andrew Russell First Place Male | Shannah Stamm First Place Female | Gray Clark First Place Male Kid (12 and under) | Madeline Jenkins First Place Female Kid (12 and under) | Greg Bordenkircher First Place Male Senior (over 55) | Shannon Silvernail First Place Female Senior (over 55) | Presley Bordenkircher Top Dog.

Title sponsors of the event included DR Horton, LOG Construction, the City of Daphne and the Pilot Family/Mobile Baykeeper.

Our purpose at 68 Ventures is to see all we can do with all we have been given. Nathan Cox, our founder and CEO, leads by example by demonstrating the power of what we can do to help others in this community. We are proud of our fantastic partnership with Baller Dream Foundation and working to help residents in Baldwin County. 

Adam Campbell, President, 68 Ventures

68 Ventures and Warrior 360 joined forces to host more than 200 local leaders in the community to its Chasing Greatness conference at The Grand Hotel on January 10, 2023.

The event raised $10,000 for the Palm Project.

CHASING GREATNESS was created with the goal of bringing together a wide array of leaders across a multitude of industries to learn from the various speakers, foster new relationships, and come away with transformative leadership tools to go out and attack the future.

In addition to the high-profile speakers, conference organizers were proud to make a $10,000 donation to the Palm Project. The Palm Project is an initiative through the Baldwin County Education Coalition to provide any necessary items needed for Baldwin County students. Composed of committee members, volunteers, and donors, this group recognizes the greatest gift a child can receive is an education.

Speakers for the day included keynote addresses by Warrior 360 President and Founder Brad Israel and Mark Fernandes of Capitalism 2.0. In addition, two panels were held to enlighten and entertain attendees. The first panel was made up of highly successful leaders from the sports world and included former NFL stars Philip Rivers and Jarret Johnson, David Morris of QB Country and Alabama’s all-time winningest high school football coach, Terry Curtis of UMS-WRIGHT. During this panel, the speakers gave their insights on their leadership skills as it related to their football careers and beyond. The other panel was a business panel featuring several highly respected CEO’s, all with an immense amount of experience overcoming times of chaos to build businesses capable weathering of any storm. In this panel was Adele Hapworth with The American Equity Underwriters, Rodney Pilot of Pilot Catastrophe and Nathan Cox of 68 Ventures. During this business panel, attendees learned how these successful leaders try to impact their companies through employee leadership and what matters to their employees while keeping an eye on their business procedures and their bottom lines.

68 VENTURES COMPANIES DONATE TO BALDWIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOUNDATION

Seven 68 Ventures companies donated a total of $5,000 in support of the BCSO Foundation’s annual Pheasant Hunt and Family Day

December 8, 2022 (Daphne, Ala.): The holiday season is a time for giving, and several 68 Ventures companies have joined together to support the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BSCO) Foundation. The companies donated a total of $6,000 in conjunction with the Foundation’s annual Family Day and Pheasant Hunt, to be used to support law enforcement officers during the holiday season and to fund other initiatives throughout the year.

Led by John Morgan, president of Mobile Bay Overhead Door, companies that contributed include 68 Ventures, Mobile Bay Overhead Door, TerraCore Development, MH Vertical, Aegis Exteriors, MH Vertical, Kent’s Landscaping, First Four Staffing, Crucible Construction and Truland Homes.

“After spending most of my career in law enforcement, supporting these officers remains one of my top priorities as a business owner,” said Morgan. “The BCSO Foundation does so much good in our community, and I’m honored to be able to support that. I’m grateful to my fellow 68 Ventures companies for jumping in on this as well.

The Baldwin County Sherriff’s Foundation programs include the Shining Star Program, a summer camp program for kids ages 8-12 to experience firsthand public safety and to build life skills, instill confidence and develop self-esteem through a wide range of curriculum emphasizing the importance of physical and mental fitness.

The Foundation also hosts an annual Memorial Golf Tournament supporting youth summer camps, including the Shining Star Program, drug awareness education programs and school resource officer programs; Project Life Saver to help track individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism or other disorders, who wander off and become lost; and a Fit For Duty 5k.

“We at 68 Ventures are grateful to John and his team at Mobile Bay Overhead Door for leading this initiative for a worthy program in our hometown,” said Nathan Cox, Founder and CEO of 68 Ventures. “Our purpose is to see all we can do with all we have been given, and John and his team are prime examples of that purpose.”

For more information on the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, visit bcsofoundation.baldwincountyal.gov.

The Cox Family Foundation has donated land for the construction of the Baldwin Prep Academy campus in Loxley. 

Part of the Baldwin County School System, Baldwin Prep Academy will be a competitive, academically rigorous, full-time campus. The $73 million high school will combine academics and real life, on-the-job experiences for students in the career field of their choice. The state-of-the-art technical school, located in Loxley along Highway 59 on approximately 70 acres, will be the first of its kind in Alabama. It is the culmination of years of planning and partnerships to help address growing demands on the local workforce.

Graduates of Baldwin Prep will be prepared for college, a career, or whatever path life takes them on. Baldwin Preparatory Academy is expected to open doors to students in the fall of 2024. Current seventh and eighth graders will be the first classes entering into the new high school based on current construction timelines. The 70 acres of land, on which the school is being built, was donated by the Cox Family Foundation.

The USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park is home to the Fallen Heroes Memorial paying tribute to all the Alabamians who have given their lives in service since 9/11.

The USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park is home to the Fallen Heroes Memorial paying tribute to all the Alabamians who have given their lives in service since 9/11.
During the dedication ceremony held in 2015, hundreds showed up to view the new memorial which contains 146 names of Alabama troops who lost their lives in the war on terror.

A 2011 Press Register article recounts how former U.S. Marine Nathan Cox knows first-hand about fallen heroes — he lost his best friend in Afghanistan and witnessed another buddy killed in action in Iraq.

The article goes on to explain that Cox spearheaded efforts to raise the money to build the Fallen Heroes Memorial and place it at the USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. The project was started to honor the military personnel who lost their lives in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

Local artist Casey Downing took almost a year to complete the bronze sculpture depicting the ceremony conducted in combat zones that marks the death of a soldier. The memorial stands 20 feet tall and 8 feet wide with a six-sided granite base honoring each of the U.S. service organizations – Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard – with the sixth side listing the names of the those who have died.

The sculpture is a soldier’s boots with a rifle positioned between them. Dog tags hang from the rifle and a helmet rest atop it.

Cox, who was deployed to Iraq with 3rd Battalion 6th Marines as a rifle platoon commander in 2005 and 2006, said in the article that at the time of a soldier’s death, each platoon member had a moment to kneel at the makeshift battlefield memorial and say goodbye to their friend.

“When you’re out in the combat zone, and can hear bombs or rifle fire, a lot of tears are shed,” he said. “Anytime I see it, I get choked up.”