A high school janitor was given the surprise of a lifetime when a group of students presented him with his dream car—a $20,000 Jeep Wrangler.
Francis Apraku, a janitor at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, was left speechless on Monday, September 9, when the students, who had been fundraising for months, handed him the incredible birthday gift.
The students raised over $20,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, surpassing their goal, with additional help from a local car dealership to select the perfect vehicle.
Apraku, overcome with emotion, dropped to the ground in disbelief and expressed his gratitude to both God and the students. Speaking to Fox5, he said, “I will give thanks to Almighty God for making today so special for me. I hope today is a great day for me.”
Turning to the students, he added, “And also, I thank my junior brothers around me—through them, this dream has come true. May God richly bless them and make all their dreams come true.”
In the video, Apraku is seen walking into the school parking lot, where he spots the Jeep. Realizing it’s his, he collapses in joy and rolls on the ground with a broad smile as the students rush over to embrace him. He then holds the keys up, raises his arms to the sky, and closes his eyes in prayer.
Apraku had previously mentioned his love for the Jeep Wrangler with a spare tire on the back. Reflecting on the surprise, he said, “When I mentioned that, the guys were looking at me strangely, and I didn’t understand why.”
He also recalled feeling puzzled when three students asked for his email address before the big day, admitting, “I don’t know much about phones or emails.”
Student Bennett revealed that they initially raised $5,000 on the first day and collected $19,000 within three months. By the end of six months, they had surpassed $20,000 for the custodian.
Logan, another student, shared that Apraku has always been kind and friendly, often offering prayers for them, which motivated their efforts.
Apraku expressed his deep appreciation, saying, “I feel happy, happy, happy, and I don’t know how to describe it.”
