A high school custodian from Virginia was overcome with emotion, shedding tears of joy and rolling around on the ground as a group of students surprised him with their dream car Monday after raising $20,000.
James Madison High School janitor Francis Apraku left his family behind to come to America a few years ago and told a group of students that while he always wanted a Jeep Wrangler for his birthday, he couldn’t afford one, according to a GoFundMe set up by the boys.
The students started the fundraiser last year when they were freshmen and a year later their efforts paid off.
“We just decided we were going to try to get him his Jeep Wrangler with the GoFundMe, and we never really thought it would come this far,” said sophomore Logan Georgelas told Fox 5 DC.
“When we got $5,000 the first day, we thought, this is real.”
Video captured the heartwarming moments after students presented Apraku with their new wheels.
Apraku was seen rolling on the sunny sidewalk with her arms outstretched above her head in the parking lot of a local restaurant where the surprise took place.
He laid on the ground in pure disbelief and happiness before finally being helped to his feet.
“Oh my God,” he kept saying. “My God.”
He said he would never forget the generosity he was shown.
“I will thank the almighty God for creating today for me. Today is a great day for me and I didn’t think this would happen in my life”, Apraku told Fox 5 DC.
One of the students told WUSA that Apraku is more than a guardian to them.
“He’s a dear friend to all of us. He’s just a very kind, genuine person,” the teenager said.
“Ever since we met Francis, he has been super nice and friendly and sometimes even says prayers for us,” the boys said in their fundraiser.