Before and after lifting weights, football players at James Madison High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, warn and talk to the school’s caretaker, Francis Apraku.
It helps keep the domain clean, something freshman Bennett Hibshman and his friends don’t take for granted. If it weren’t for Apraku, he says, there would be Wawa food wrappers everywhere.
Apraku also allows athletes to return to dominance if they leave an object, such as a water bottle.
Hibshman and his friends now enjoy their interactions with Apraku, who takes care of them. Their positivity leaves a lasting impression, Hibshman said.
So when the organization learned that Apraku dreamed of owning a Jeep Wrangler, they sprang into action. A virtual fundraising crusade has already raised more than $18,000 to achieve its $25,000 goal.
“It means a lot that we can make a difference in someone’s life,” Hibshman said. “It’s pretty cool that the whole city of Vienna and even other people outside of Vienna have come together as a network to give this guy a car they’ve never met in their lives. “
The idea, first reported through local news site Patch, stemmed from a verbal exchange some scholars had with Apraku about his birthday. He said that his birthday was January 1, a date that, at the time of the verbal exchange, had already passed. When asked what they were looking for as a birthday present, he replied, “You’ll never be able to buy me that, but I’ve been looking for a Jeep Wrangler,” Hibshman recalled, noting that Apraku liked the rear tire.
Initially, it was a joke, and Hibshman thought the band would give him “a little gift, just to show our appreciation for what he does. “
The initial goal was to raise enough cash to be able to buy him the car before he graduated. But the situation became much more serious when the GoFundMe page raised $10,000 in the first two days.
The fundraiser was shared widely on Facebook, and Hibshman heard others outside of Washington’s domain praise the organization for its act of kindness. Even the dentist and Hibshman’s boss are aware of what they’re doing, he said.
“It’s amazing that it’s come this far,” Hibshman said. “It means a lot to us to be able to do something so big. “
Apraku has two children who are in college, Hibshman said, and speaks regularly about his circle of relatives in Africa. He told them about his conversations with academics and “how much he loves his work, because he has the opportunity to communicate with us. “and be more informed about us. The fact that we were communicating with him seemed to mean a lot to him,” Hibshman said.
Sometimes, Apraku gives recommendations about the life of the organization or spreads positivity. The goal, Hibshman said, seemed to be to brighten their days.
Football players are still figuring out the details, as if they were giving him cash for the car or buying it. But, Hibshman said, they’re keeping their plans under wraps for now.
“Their reaction is going to be pretty good,” Hibshman said. “That’s why we’re doing it, to see how he reacts. This is the component that we are all most excited about. “
Scott Gelman is a virtual editor and editor of WTOP. Originally from South Florida, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019. During his time in College Park, he worked for The Diamondback, the school’s newspaper.