Back in October, a 5th grader named Cody started saving every penny he could. He did extra chores, babysat, helped neighbors, and even set aside his Christmas and birthday money. After six months of hard work, he had saved over $200.

But instead of spending the money on toys or games, Cody told his mom he wanted to do something truly meaningful. He decided to invite every teacher he ever had at Northern Hills Elementary to a special dinner to thank them before moving on to middle school.

Cody designed and delivered handmade invitations, tracked down some former teachers, booked a nice restaurant, bought flowers for each one, and wrote a heartfelt speech. That night, he thanked every teacher personally and surprised them by paying for the entire meal himself.

When asked why, Cody simply said, “I love my dad. He works so hard for his students and misses a lot to help them. I know my teachers work hard for me, so I want to work hard for them too.” At just 11 years old, Cody’s kindness and gratitude show us what real appreciation truly means.