Earlier this year, a group of Madison sophomores led by Bennett Hibshman and Logan Georgelas raised money to deliver Francis Apraku, a school custodian, the gift of a lifetime: a bright cherry-red Jeep Wrangler, his dream car.

“Ever since we met Francis he has been super kind and friendly and sometimes even says prayers for us,” said the students in the GoFundMe description, “He said he has always wanted a Jeep Wrangler but could never afford it which is why we made this GoFundMe to try and raise enough to get Francis a Jeep Wrangler.” 

The six boys had banded together in March and were able to raise over $20,000 in just six months, with $5,000 raised in the first 48 hours. This far superseded the students original goal of buying Apraku the car by the time they graduated. In an interview with USA Today, Hibshman credited the Town of Vienna and local businesses with banding together to help support the cause, so much so that the car was gifted to Apraku in the parking lot of a town staple, The Vienna Inn. The moment the fundraising came to fruition and the students gifted Apraku the car was caught on camera. He can be seen overcome with joy, and rolling on the ground in shock.

“A community can come together and raise that much money for a man they have never met,” said Hibshman to USA Today when asked about the community’s impact on their fundraising. The boy’s generosity continues to be paid forward, as Jeep told CBS that they will be donating six years of free tire rotations and oil changes to Apraku.

Additionally the media caught wind of the boy’s generosity and they were interviewed here at Madison by CBS news correspondent Steve Hartman for both an article and a short televised segment. The interview took place in Madison English teacher Beth Blankenship’s room, with school security, an FCPS media team and student journalists and photographers present. The experience included camera tests, a sit-down interview and candid shots of the boys in the weight room and of Apraku in a custodial closet.