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7:01 PM
When a team of veterans in recovery began their ascent up Mount Kilimanjaro, they carried more than climbing gear—they carried a Questco flag. That flag represented something bigger: a partnership between us and Project Zero, a Houston-based nonprofit that's changing the lives of veterans through adventure therapy.
The journey from sponsorship to summit started months earlier with a golf tournament. What began as a fundraiser became part of an expedition that would change lives.
How Our Partnership Started
Back in September 2025, we had the opportunity to sponsor a Project Zero golf tournament. The proceeds went directly toward funding the organization's most ambitious project yet: getting a team of veterans to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Project Zero had set an aggressive goal—raise $100,000 in 2025 specifically for mental health and recovery support services. We're grateful that our tournament support could contribute to that effort and help make the expedition possible.
The tournament connected us with an organization doing important work: addressing urgent veteran wellness needs in innovative ways.
What is Project Zero?
Project Zero was founded in 2019 by veterans and first responders who saw a gap in mental health services. They built a Houston-based nonprofit around three core programs:
- Adventure Therapy: Challenging outdoor experiences—hiking, overlanding, and more—that combine physical activity with peer support.
- Mental Health Services: Free, confidential treatment with licensed professionals.
- Recovery Support Services: A new program supporting veterans in recovery.
The Kilimanjaro expedition launched this third pillar. Project Zero selected eight veterans in active recovery based on their commitment to the journey, their character, and their dedication to something bigger than themselves.
Why Adventure Therapy?
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, time in nature may help to reduce the severity of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The approach combines several powerful elements:
- Connection with peers who get it—people who've had similar service experiences
- Physical challenges that rebuild confidence and resilience
- Natural settings that lower stress and create space for reflection
- Structured activities that help veterans process trauma in healthy ways
The team summited on September 11, 2025—a date with deep meaning for many veterans. They transformed a day associated with loss into one celebrating recovery.
A Piece of Questco Goes to the Summit
Before the climb, Project Zero did something that truly moved us: they created a Questco flag to carry to the summit. It was their way of saying thank you, and to carry our partnership with them on the climb. While not everyone at Questco knew about the plan, leadership shared the news with our team as the climb kicked off.
The final push to the summit was brutal: a 12-hour climb through challenging terrain, altitude, and harsh weather. But the team made it to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet, the highest point in Africa.
At the summit, they unfurled our flag, and our team was touched by the reminder of what partnerships can accomplish when businesses and nonprofits work together.
"Carrying the Questco flag to the summit was our way of saying you're part of this story," explained Kyle Griffin, Founder of Creative Heights and a climb participant. "Your support didn't just help fund a climb. It helps Project Zero give veterans and first responders a path to better mental health through adventure. Presenting the flag back to you was a symbol of shared purpose and our sincere gratitude."
Why This Kind of Partnership Matters
Veterans face real barriers to mental health care. More than 1.7 million veterans received treatment in VA mental health specialty programs in fiscal year 2018, but countless others who need help don't get it. Stigma, bureaucracy, cost, and access issues all get in the way.
Project Zero removes those barriers:
- No cost: Every service is free for veterans and first responders
- No bureaucracy: Confidential access without endless paperwork or approval hoops
- Peer-based: Programs designed and led by veterans and first responders who understand the unique challenges of service
- Evidence-based: Adventure therapy backed by VA research showing real effectiveness
Partnerships with nonprofits like Project Zero allow organizations like ours to contribute to solutions that scale beyond what any single funding source can achieve. The golf tournament didn't just fund one climb—it helped launch an entire Recovery Support Services program that will serve veterans for years to come.
Where the Story Goes From Here
After successfully summiting, Kyle visited our offices to present the flag back to leadership. It was a full-circle moment—and one we didn't expect.
That flag now represents something we're incredibly proud of: our connection to our friends at Project Zero. For us, it's a reminder of what happens when we align our values with community action. For the veterans who carried it up the mountain, it represented part of the support system that made their recovery possible.
"Questco is proud to encourage people in the communities we serve reach new heights," said Jason Randall, Chief Growth Officer at Questco. "And we are delighted that we could support the veterans of Project Zero achieve the summit of Kilimanjaro. It's our honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with this organization that inspires purpose and accomplishment to our valued veterans, and we salute this group for its tremendous achievement."
Reaching new heights—whether on a mountain or in recovery—takes partnership, purpose, and support. For the eight veterans who summited, the climb marked a milestone in their recovery. For us, it demonstrated values in action. And for the veteran community, it proves that support systems exist, and barriers to mental health care can be overcome.
We're honored to have played even a small part in this story—and we're grateful to Project Zero for bringing a piece of Questco with them to the top of Africa.
Learn more about Project Zero's programs at projzero.com or explore partnership opportunities by contacting their team directly.
