Giving Tuesday 2022: Elevate Youth

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Give the gift of access

At oakpool we generally advise our clients to stay away from participating in Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Increased CPMs, decreased ROAS. This is the domain of Amazon & Walmart, not brands looking to be strategic with their resources. Furthermore, we’re believers in the ethos of Thanksgiving. This is a time for reflection, gratitude, and generosity.

While we don’t love BF/CM, we are huge supporters of Giving Tuesday. Enter our friends at Elevate Youth.

I am very grateful to have had access to the outdoors growing up, and I don’t know where I would be in life without the meditative benefits of time spent in the woods, on the water, and in the mountains. I truly feel that the world would be a better place if more people had a deeper connection with our planet. The fact of the matter is that this is a connection that is often times difficult or impossible for less fortunate children to make. That’s why our friend Alec Griswold started Elevate Youth to give underserved youth access to activities like hiking, fishing, and skiing. Since 2017, the organization has been working to create outdoor programming for children from traditionally underserved communities in the greater Boston area without direct access to open space and natural environments.

Our team has spent numerous weekends volunteering with these kids, and it’s clear to us that no-matter who you are, spending time outside in an inclusive and encouraging environment will put a smile on your face. The kids love it and the lessons learned about various ecosystems, persistence, the joy of progress, and positivity are invaluable.

Help a child connect with our planet here

WRITTEN BY
James Hamilton is an entrepreneur and technologist focused on building businesses and brands that thrive and endure. He is the co-founder of oakpool, a founder and employee-owned digital marketing firm that builds teams, systems, and software to help brands achieve sustainable growth. oakpool works globally, with team members and clients across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Past and present clients include GORE-TEX, Goslings Rum, Caesars Entertainment, and Zum. 
At oakpool, James leads new product and service development, including oakpool.ai, which focuses on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO or AI Search Optimization) — helping brands become legible, referenced, and surfaced inside modern AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. 
Along with his work at oakpool, James has spent nearly a decade in early-stage venture capital and company formation, working as an investor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at firms in Boston, London, and the Bay Area. He earned his MBA at Imperial College London and his BA at the College of Charleston. 
James comes from a family of artists, curators, gallerists, and writers, and approaches entrepreneurship as a creative act. Beyond his work, James is passionate about travel, skiing, fly fishing, the arts, and our planet.
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