It's not unusual for the most beloved person in a school to be the janitor. They're the go-to person for students when a ball ends up on the roof or when a jacket is left in a locked classroom. They're also quick to handle any spills in the cafeteria or leaks in classrooms.
In essence, a school cannot function smoothly without its janitorial staff.
One exceptional janitor at a high school in Virginia received a heartwarming surprise when students decided to gift him his dream vehicle. “He’s more than just a custodian; he’s a close friend to all of us. He’s just a very kind and genuine person,” remarked one student, as reported by KBTX.
In May 2024, some freshmen at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, asked their beloved janitor, Francis Apraku, what he desired for his birthday. His response? A Jeep Wrangler. “He mentioned that his birthday was coming up and expressed his long-time wish for a Jeep, stating that it was his ultimate goal in life. We thought, ‘We’re going to try to get him a Jeep,’” one of the students involved in the initiative shared with WUSA 9.
Apraku moved to the United States from Ghana, located on the Coast of Guinea in West Africa, ten years ago.
The students launched a GoFundMe campaign with the ambitious goal of surprising their favorite janitor with a Jeep by the time they graduated high school in four years. To their astonishment, they raised enough money in just six months to fulfill his dream.
“We are freshmen at James Madison High School in Virginia, and our favorite custodian, Francis, loves Jeep Wranglers. He moved to America away from his family and friends a few years ago. Since we met Francis, he has always been kind and friendly, sometimes even offering prayers for us,” the students stated on the GoFundMe page.
“In a recent conversation about his birthday, he mentioned that he had always wanted a Jeep Wrangler but could never afford one, which prompted us to create this GoFundMe to raise enough funds to get him a Jeep Wrangler by graduation. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated,” the post concluded.
The boys initially set a goal of $20,000, and they surpassed it on September 7, 2024, making it time to present Apraku with his Jeep. They coordinated the purchase with Andy, a local car dealer.
When the students brought Apraku to the school parking lot to reveal his new red Jeep, his reaction was priceless. He fell to the ground in disbelief, exclaiming, “Oh my God, Oh my God. I can’t believe this is happening in my life. I give thanks to Almighty God for making this day possible.”
For the students, rewarding their favorite custodian was a dream realized. “I’m excited to see him driving around school and to see him every day… He truly deserves it,” one student expressed.
“We just decided we would try to get him his Jeep Wrangler through GoFundMe, and we never imagined it would go this far,” said Logan Georgelas, one of the students behind the campaign, according to Fox 5. “When we raised $5,000 on the first day, we knew this was real.”
After taking his first spin in his new Jeep, Apraku was thrilled. “It's very, very fantastic. A really nice one,” he remarked, according to WUSA 9. He expressed his gratitude to the community that made this gift possible, stating, “I want to thank the students behind the GoFundMe and especially the parents involved. May God bless them.”