Company: Underground Elephant, San Diego, CA
Company Description: Founded in 2008, Underground Elephant delivers innovative, SaaS marketing performance platforms and the highest quality customer calls, clicks and inquiries. Our cloud-based platforms reduce customer acquisition costs through hyper-targeted prospect sourcing, profiling, distribution and rigorous data analytics.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year - Up to 100 Employees

Nomination Title: Serving Those who Serve our Community

Tell the story about what this nominated organization achieved since January 1 2013 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:TEXT REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION

Several Underground Elephant employees have moved to San Diego, California from cities around the globe. Living and working in “America’s Finest City” is something we do not take for granted. To show our appreciation for the community we call home, Underground Elephant makes giving back to the San Diego a core value of the company’s culture.

Underground Elephant has developed and followed through on a wide range of employee-led initiatives that continue to meaningfully impact San Diego. Whether it’s our ongoing partnership with the San Diego Humane Society, honoring our local military veterans, or supporting the San Diego Police Department, UE is dedicated to helping those who serve our community.

Underground Elephant’s longstanding partnership with the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) has helped to improve the lives of hundreds of animals in need. As a team filled with animal lovers, UE values and supports SDHS’s commitment to prevent animal cruelty and remain a no-kill shelter. We leveraged our talents in digital marketing and website technology to develop new website content, marketing strategies, and vision for the SDHS brand that inspired increased donations, corporate sponsorships, community engagement, and, ultimately, pet adoptions. Additionally, we continue to support the organization’s efforts by sponsoring SDHS-hosted events throughout the year, including the Humane Society Walkathon, Telethon, and “Fur Ball” Gala.

In addition to animal shelters that serve the local community, Underground Elephant also supported a class of animal that helps protect San Diego’s citizens—a police canine. In partnership with San Diego Police Foundation (SDPF), this past February, Underground Elephant funded the adoption of a police canine named Olaf. Underground Elephant presented SDPF with a check to cover Olaf’s initial adoption, a lifetime supply of food, veterinary care, and specialized training equipment. Olaf, originally from Europe, is now currently training at the San Diego K-9 Academy and ready to become San Diego’s newest crime-fighter.

Underground Elephant also honors the brave service of our local military veterans. Military veterans account for a significant portion of the San Diego community—and many of them need homes. Inspired by Habitat for Humanity’s commitment to building homes for our Veterans, Underground Elephant constructed the first ‘Building for the Brave’ home in Lakeside, California in October—a first for San Diego’s Habitat for Humanity’s program. Underground Elephant employees worked together during this all-day event, building townhomes adapted to the special needs of military veterans. ‘The homes will allow us to serve those who have served us, by providing 4 townhomes for affordable homeownership by disabled veterans and their families,’ stated the organization.

In addition to these accomplishments since January 1, 2013, Underground Elephant partnered with Feeding America San Diego and the San Diego Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Our culture at UE is all about lending a hand and doing what we can to help make the San Diego community even better,” said Jason Kulpa, CEO. Underground Elephant’s CSR policy will continue to reflect our mission and give back to local organizations that so lovingly provide for the community.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the leader of this nominated organization:

Jason Kulpa is founder and CEO of Underground Elephant, an online marketing company specializing in customer-acquisition services and enterprise-marketing software. Leveraging 13 years of web traffic monetization experience, Jason is responsible for spearheading the company’s high-level business alliances, strategic partnerships, and overall competitiveness.

Underground Elephant was founded in San Diego in 2008. By 2011, it was San Diego’s fastest growing private company, according to the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ); followed by a 4th place finish in 2012. Inc. Magazine also acknowledged UE’s rapid growth in 2013, locally and nationally.

In addition to financial success, Underground Elephant’s is deeply committed to supporting a robust, progressive company culture. In 2012 and 2013, the National Association of Business Resources recognized UE as one of the Nation’s Best & Brightest Companies. UE is also a two-time winner of SDBJ’s Best Places to Work in San Diego.

For his leadership at Underground Elephant, SDBJ presented Jason with the Most-Admired CEO Award in 2010; he was also a finalist in 2009 and 2011, as well as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist. Jason is a member of the Young President's Organization, Young Entrepreneur Council, and avid supporter of the Arsenal Football Club.

Jason attended Arizona State University's School of Letters and Sciences, and Harvard Business School's Executive MBA Program in Cambridge, Massachusetts.