March 08, 2024
Students raise money to reunite PC security guard with family in Nigeria
When students living in Raymond Hall learned that James Mogaji, an overnight security guard for their building, had not visited his family in Nigeria in more than a decade, they made a plan. On February 29, they set up an online fundraiser to collect money for him.
Within seven days, the students presented him with a gift of $3,000 for the trip. A video captured Mogaji’s reaction as he fell to the ground in surprise amid a chorus of “We love you, James!”
“We take care of our own. That’s what we do at PC,” Daniel Singh ’26, a resident assistant in Raymond Hall, told Mogaji in the video. “As long as I’ve been here, they’ve done that for me, we’ve done that for each other, so now we’re doing it for you.”
“He’s just the kindest soul anyone has ever met in this building. He means so much to us,” Brandon Reichert ’27, who helped organize the fundraiser, told WCVB-TV. “It was amazing how fast everyone connected and were able to put it together for him.”
@lkquinnco 🛑please stop and take the time to watch and share this amazing display of unrelenting kindness and humanity at its best.🛑 now time for MY BRAGGING- My best friend Jess Reichert son Brandon is the most incredibly kind, thoughtful and generous soul. (Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree) I am once again blown away by Brandon’s God Given gift of always doing the right thing and recognizing what is truly important in this world- LOVE and KINDNESS. Brandon started a Gofundme for his overnight security guard James at his dorm building at Providence College. James has been wanting to visit his family in Nigeria for a long time, and Brandon along with all of the amazing students on his floor at PC began to raise money for James to get him home. Today they presented him with the trip. This act of kindness shows us all, that we are more alike than not. Brandon’s ability to always do the right thing and lead, show compassion and gratitude has been a highlight of my life watching him grow up into the amazing young man he is. On that note, I want to give Jess Reichert all the respect in the world for raising this boy as a SINGLE MOTHER and shaping him to be everything he is. For the countless sacrifices she has and continues to make and the obstacles she endures to make sure he has every opportunity to continue on his path we all could learn from as parents. This is also your payoff Jessie, everything that boy is, is ALL because of you! I al so proud to be your friend! I love you both so much!!! Let’s keep this going with a share! @wcvb5 @wpri12 @therhodeshow @abc6providence @channelkindness @thekindnessrocksproject #belikeBrandon #providenceCollege #gofundme #goviral #pcfriars #kindnessmatters ♬ original sound – Leah Quinn
Media coverage
- ABC6: Providence College students make security guard’s dream come true
- WCVB-TV: Providence College students raise thousands to help security guard
- WPRI: PC students gift overnight security guard trip home to Nigeria
- WJAR: Providence College students raise money for security guard to visit family in Nigeria
- Providence Journal: A PC security guard hadn’t been home to Nigeria in 11 years. Then, students started raising money.
- People.com: R.I. College Students Raise Thousands to Help Security Guard Visit Family in Nigeria: ‘We Appreciate Him’
- NBC News: Rhode Island college students gift security guard trip to visit family in Nigeria
- Boston Globe: Providence College students hold fundraiser for security guard, surprise him with trip to Nigeria
- Daily Mail: Heartwarming moment Providence College students gift their security guard a $3,000 trip home to Nigeria to visit his family
- Good Morning America: College students raise money, surprise security guard with trip to visit family
- Fox News: College students’ act of kindness for beloved security guard goes viral, allows him to visit family overseas
- USA Today: Security guard’s dream comes true when college students raise funds to pay his way home
- CatholicVote.org: Rhode Island Catholic College Students Help Security Guard Reunite with Family
- NBC Nightly News: Students surprise dorm security guard with trip to visit family for first time in more than a decade
- Aleteia: Students’ stunning act of kindness for their security guard
- Good: Security guard left in tears as students raise $30k to help him visit his family after 11 years
- CNN 5 Good Things (podcast)
