☀️ A Summer of Gratitude · Baltimore, MD

1,000 Hoorays.
One Summer.

We're building a movement of gratitude across Baltimore — one card, one cheer, one thank-you, one person feeling seen at a time.

You Just Got Hooray'd! sticker
Live Goal 1,000 Hoorays this summer
See the tracker →
1,000Hoorays Goal
3Ways to Join
5Hooray Week Days
1Kinder Baltimore

Why This Matters

Gratitude is a verb.

Most people don't stop being kind. They stop noticing. When the ride, the lunch, the clean room, the unlocked doors, or the trash pickup feels expected, gratitude disappears before it has a chance to form.

So we practice gratitude out loud: notice good, name it, say thank you, and celebrate it until it becomes instinct.

The Gratitude Cycle

Step 1Notice
Step 2Name It
Step 3Say It
Step 4Celebrate

Everyone deserves to feel seen. Most people just don't. This summer, we change that.

Where It All Started

We make thank-you a big deal!

Long before there was Hooray Squad, there were Perfectly Me Hero Camps, where kids learn that one of the simplest ways to change someone’s day is to let them know they’re appreciated.

Every summer at Perfectly Me Hero Camps, our campers take time to thank the people who make their days possible. They create heartfelt thank-you cards for the facilities, custodial, maintenance, and security teams at our camp locations—the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes and rarely receive the recognition they deserve. They make cards and small gifts for first responders who serve our communities. And before summer ends, every camper writes a thank-you note to hand-deliver to a teacher on the first day of school.

This summer, our KindergartenHeroes took it one step further.

Armed with handmade cards, big smiles, and grateful hearts, they walked through the halls thanking the facilities and maintenance team that cared for our camp every day. The smiles, surprise, and genuine emotion on those faces reminded us of something we already knew:

People don’t get tired of being appreciated. They get tired of waiting for it.

In that moment, we realized this shouldn’t happen only inside our camps.

It should happen everywhere.

That’s how Hooray Squad was born.

Today, we’re taking the gratitude our campers have been sharing for years and inviting everyone to join the movement. Because changing someone’s day doesn’t require a grand gesture—it simply takes someone willing to notice the good and say, “Thank you.”

The 30-Second Hooray

Gratitude only changes someone’s day when it’s shared.

Every day, we walk past people who make life better.

The crossing guard keeping kids safe.

The cashier smiling through a long shift.

The custodian making the room ready before anyone arrives.

The coworker who quietly holds everything together.

We notice. We feel grateful. And then too often, we keep moving.
We assume they know. We tell ourselves we’ll say something next time. The 30-Second Hooray is the moment we stop walking by.

Take 30 seconds to say:

“I see what you do. Thank you. It matters.”

That may be the only appreciation someone hears all day.
That is why Hooray Squad exists: to turn silent gratitude into spoken gratitude.

It only takes 30 seconds!

Join the Movement

Three ways to help us hit 1,000 Hoorays.

No fundraising. No experience required. Just kindness in action.

Share the Hooray

See someone doing something good? Don't just think it. Say it. Celebrate it. Log it.

  • Download or write a card
  • Add a sticker
  • Hand it to someone who made a difference

Join Hooray Week

August 3–7, 2026

Help us surprise Baltimore's trash, recycling, and Charm City Cleanup crews with cards, cold drinks, cheers, and gratitude.

Squad Up From Home

Can't make it to a Hooray Stop? Create cards, signs, notes, or small gifts. We'll deliver your Hoorays during Hooray Week.

Ready to Give Your 1st Hooray?

Scared? I Was Too.

If you’re feeling a little nervous, you’re not alone. I was too.

I worried I’d sound awkward. I wondered if people would think I was strange. I almost talked myself out of giving my very first Hooray.

I’m so glad I didn’t.

Just a few days ago, I decided to stop waiting and start noticing the good out loud. In my first five days, I gave 25 Hoorays.

To strangers. To friends. To people I see every week but had never taken the time to truly thank.

And here’s what I’ve learned:

People aren’t looking for perfect words. They’re grateful that someone noticed.

  • You don’t need a speech.
  • You don’t need to be outgoing.
  • You don’t need to say everything perfectly.
  • You just need to notice the good—and say it out loud.

You’ve Got This.

Every great Hooray follows four simple steps.

1. Get Their Attention

Smile. Then simply say:

  • “Hi! Can I tell you something really quickly?”
  • “Can I give you a 30-second Hooray?”
  • “I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

That’s it.

2. Tell Them What You Noticed

Start with:

  • “I’ve noticed…”
  • “I just wanted you to know…”
  • “I really appreciate…”
  • “One thing I’ve noticed about you…”

Then be specific. Notice something they do, not something they have.

3. Tell Them Why It Matters

Help them understand the difference they make. Tell them how they made someone feel, what impact they had, or why you wanted to stop and say something.

This is the moment they’ll remember.

4. Say Thank You

End simply.

  • “Thank you.”
  • “I appreciate you.”
  • “You deserve a Hooray.”

Then smile, hand them a Hooray card or sticker if you have one, and wish them a great day.

Need Some Inspiration?
A Cashier

“Hi! Can I tell you something really quickly?”

Every time I come through your line, you’re kind to everyone. You smile, you’re patient, and you make shopping here a little brighter. I know that’s part of your job, but I don’t think people tell you how much it matters.

I just wanted to say thank you. You deserve a Hooray today.”

A Teacher

“I’ve been meaning to tell you thank you.”

I’ve watched how patient and encouraging you are with your students. You make every child feel seen, and that’s something they’ll remember long after they leave your classroom.

Thank you for everything you do.”

A Friend

“I’ve been meaning to tell you this.”

You’re the person people can always count on. You encourage people without expecting anything in return, and I hope you know how much that means.

Thank you.”

Someone You Don’t Know

“I know we’ve never met, but I wanted to tell you something.”

I’ve noticed the way you treat everyone with kindness and respect. It made my day, and I wanted to make sure someone told you it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Thank you.”

Raquel Gilmer, Founder of Perfectly Me

One Last Thing…

Your first Hooray probably won’t be perfect. Mine wasn’t either. It doesn’t have to be.

It just has to be genuine.

Someone out there needs to hear what you’ve already been thinking. So don’t wait for the perfect moment.

You’ve
Got This!

Now go make
someone’s day.

With gratitude,

Raquel Gilmer

Founder, Perfectly Me

I’m on this journey with you! Let’s build a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and celebrated.

Notice the good. Say it out loud. Change a day.

You’ve Got This!

Now go make someone’s day.

The Hooray Tracker

Watch the movement grow.

Every Hooray logged moves us closer to 1,000. Add yours right here — it counts the moment you hit submit.

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Hooray Stories

Real Hoorays, real days changed.

Every Hooray has a story. Here's one from the field — and yours could be next.

Hooray #001

Yesterday I left the house with my stickers — no cards yet, just on the lookout for something to Hooray. Chick-fil-A is always full of Hooray possibilities. I got my courage up with the first team member, pulled out my sticker, and said "You just got Hooray'd!" He kind of looked at me… "thank you?" Honestly, I felt a little embarrassed.

But I'm on a mission. So when the next team member brought my order to the car, I handed her a sticker and said it loud and proud: "You just got Hooray'd!" And you know what she said? "Yay! I just got Hooray'd!" She was excited, she asked about the sticker, and it made my whole day.

Super pumped to make gratitude a whole thing this summer.

R
Raquel · Founder, Hooray SquadChick-fil-A drive-thru · Baltimore, MD

Share your Hooray story

Gave a Hooray? Got one? Tell us what happened — first tries and awkward moments count double.

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The Ripple Effect

Every Hooray moves the mission.

One card
One smile
One conversation
One person feels seen

Ready to spread some Hoorays?

Help us reach 1,000 moments of gratitude this summer. Tell us how you want to help — it takes about a minute.

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