🚙 Students Raise $20,000 to Buy Beloved School Custodian His Dream Car — A Jeep Wrangler

At James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, the halls are filled with more than just the sound of lockers and laughter — they echo with kindness. And this September, that kindness took center stage when a group of students came together to honor someone who had quietly made their school feel like home: their beloved custodian, Francis Apraku.

Francis, known for his warm smile, tireless work ethic, and genuine care for every student, had long dreamed of owning a Jeep Wrangler. It was a dream he casually mentioned during a conversation with students around his birthday in 2023 — never imagining they’d take it seriously.

But they did.

Over the course of three months, students launched a fundraising campaign, rallying classmates, teachers, and the local community. Bake sales, car washes, social media drives — every effort was fueled by love and gratitude. Their goal? Raise $20,000 to buy Francis the car he thought he could never afford.

On September 9, 2024, in the parking lot of the Vienna Inn, the students revealed the surprise. Francis was speechless. As the keys to a brand-new Jeep Wrangler were placed in his hands, tears welled in his eyes. “I didn’t believe this would happen in my life,” he said, overwhelmed by the gesture.

The moment was captured in a video that quickly went viral — showing Francis hugging students, laughing through tears, and sitting behind the wheel of his dream car for the first time. The joy was contagious. Teachers clapped, students cheered, and the community celebrated a man whose quiet service had finally been recognized in a big way.

📣 The Vienna Inn, which hosted the reveal, shared the story online: “Many of you have been following the heartwarming story of JMHS students who set out to raise funds to buy their custodian his dream car, a Jeep Wrangler. Today, they made his dream a reality and presented him with the Jeep!”

Francis’s story is a reminder that heroes don’t always wear capes — sometimes, they carry mops, offer kind words in passing, and make a school feel like a second home. And sometimes, students return that love in ways that change lives forever.