You’ve got (dad) mail

For most kids, receiving mail means birthday cards or the occasional college brochure. For Rosie Paulik, however, it means something much more: a handwritten note from her dad, every single day.

• Her father, retired Ohio professor Buz Ecker, began writing Rosie letters when she was little—slipped into her lunchbox, tucked into her backpack, and later mailed to her college dorm. 
• By adulthood, she had collected 3,500+ notes from her Dad—a tangible timeline of encouragement, jokes, and wisdom.

Fast-forward to this year, when Rosie shared their story on TikTok. The internet, doing what it does, made the idea go viral.

• Suddenly, strangers from across the world were asking if Buz would write them a letter, too. 
• Some were going through breakups, others grieving a loss, others just in need of a little kindness from a dad in their mailbox.

And instead of brushing it off, Buz grabbed his favorite pen.

Together, he and Rosie launched the Dad Letter Project, a free initiative that aims to send personal, handwritten letters to anyone who requests one. 

• So far, they’ve mailed 1,600+ letters—each one unique, heartfelt, and full of a little love from Buz and other dads.
• The letters don’t always promise solutions. Sometimes, they’re just reminders to keep going, or a simple “I believe in you.” On its website, the Dad Letter Project is described as a “hug, but on paper.”

Bottom line: In an era of push alerts and quick-scroll texts, the project is a reminder that some things—like an old-fashioned letter from someone who cares—never go out of style.