In June 2014, a heartwarming story captured the internet’s attention when a young girl named Katie wrote a handwritten letter to Google asking for a special favor — a day off for her dad on his birthday.

Her note, written in blue crayon, read:

“Dear Google Worker,
Can you please make sure when Daddy goes to work he gets one day off? Like he can get a day off on Wednesday. Because Daddy only gets a day off on Saturday.
From, Katie
P.S. It’s Daddy’s birthday!
P.P.S. It’s summer, you know.”

A few days later, Google responded with a printed letter signed by Daniel Shiplacoff, one of the managers at Google. The response said:

“Dear Katie,
Thank you for your thoughtful note and request.
Your father has been hard at work designing many beautiful and delightful things for Google and millions of people across the globe.
On the occasion of his birthday, and recognizing the importance of taking some Wednesdays off during the summer, we are giving him the whole first week of July as vacation time.
Enjoy!”

The exchange quickly went viral, drawing smiles and admiration worldwide. It highlighted Google’s reputation for maintaining a positive and family-friendly work culture, proving that behind the world’s tech giant are real people who care about kindness, gratitude, and work-life balance.

Katie’s simple letter reminded everyone that sometimes, small gestures — even written in crayon — can inspire big acts of compassion.