Vancouver, B.C. — At just 17 years old, Julius has already left an imprint on his community that few high school seniors can claim. A Grade 12 student at St. George’s School, Julius is the founder of the Gratitude Cookie Project—an initiative he conceptualized under the mission: “Building Community, One Thank-You at a Time,” which has touched the lives of thousands of families across Vancouver and Richmond.
The idea, deceptively simple, was rooted in something profound: gratitude. After successfully cold-calling and securing partnerships with about 20 local restaurants, Julius created a program where children could earn a cookie by offering a heartfelt “thank you” to their parents, guardian, or caregiver. Children were encouraged to reflect and articulate a specific act of care rather than offering a general thanks. Julius also became the project’s official sponsor, funding the entire cookie supply (180 to 200 cookies per location) using his earnings from his lifeguarding job. This ensured the restaurants’ involvement was streamlined and cost-free, transforming local businesses into cost-effective distribution partners for this message of gratitude. This model demonstrates an original and highly scalable approach to leveraging micro-incentives (the cookie) to drive positive, reciprocal family behavior. In exchange for that small act of kindness, families were rewarded not just with something sweet, but with a reminder of how powerful a few words can be.
Since its launch, the project has engaged over 5,000 participants across Vancouver and Richmond. Given that each cookie catalyzes an interaction between a child and at least one to two caregivers, the project’s total human impact multiplies exponentially. This immense reach reinforces Julius’s belief that gratitude can propagate outward in unexpected ways. Parents have described the experience as “heartwarming” and “a reminder of what matters most,” with many admitting that such acknowledgments often go unspoken in daily life.
For Julius, the inspiration was deeply personal. “I realized how often genuine appreciation goes unsaid, even within our closest bonds,” he explained, adding that reflecting on the strength and silence of his family during challenging times planted the seed for the Gratitude Cookie Project: a way to bring unspoken appreciation to the surface and carry it forward.
Frank, owner of Cloud & Shine Café, one of the first participating restaurants, speaks of Julius with admiration. “Julius exemplifies what it means to lead with empathy,” he said. “He has a remarkable ability to transform personal reflection into community action.” He also praised Julius’s professionalism and persistence, noting the countless hours he spent coordinating logistics and personally visiting locations to ensure smooth implementation. “It’s rare to see a young person so dedicated to something bigger than himself. He wasn’t just promoting cookies, he was promoting connection.”
The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents describe moments when their children offered a genuine “thank you,” often catching them off guard. The project required children to articulate a specific reason for their gratitude. It was these personalized affirmations—such as “Thank you for reading me stories every night,” or “Thank you for making me my favorite breakfast every morning”—that created the deepest impact. Many families have shared deeply happy conversations, punctuated by spontaneous big hugs and even tears of appreciation. For some, those words carried more weight than the cookie itself. “My son doesn’t usually say it out loud,” one mother admitted, her eyes welling up. “When he did, it meant the world to me, and the hug was an added bonus.”
Julius said “It’s about the genuine meaning behind the thank-you and the deep reflection required, not just the words. I also wanted to show how gratitude surfaces—how it cultivates deeper human connections.” His work has already begun to propagate beyond Canada; in the summer, Julius hosted a YouTube livestream tutorial, sharing the project’s blueprint with a student in Japan who intends to launch a similar initiative in their city.
He also gratefully acknowledged the foundational support he received from his school community, specifically thanking his teachers, Ms. Woodruff and Mr. Rodriguez, for their guidance and belief in the project’s mission.
With graduation on the horizon, Julius plans to carry the lessons of the Gratitude Cookie Project forward, and make it an annual tradition, but the mark he’s left is already unmistakable. In a world that often overlooks small gestures, he has reminded Vancouver that sometimes the simplest acts—like saying “thank you”—can be the most powerful catalyst for community and family connection.
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