Thanks to the efforts of a Virginia church, dozens of graduating students are finishing their college education with zero debt or outstanding tuition.

For the last few years, the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria has asked their congregation to participate in a fast for the duration of January by giving up certain luxuries, such as social media, junk food, or alcohol.

They also asked the church-goers to abstain from spending money on any non-essential items so they could donate the money instead to an important cause.

The financial fasting ended up raising over $100,000 – and the church used the money to pay off the outstanding debt of graduating college students at Howard University in Washington D.C.

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“This year, as our fasting ended, we asked members to make a sacrificial offering that we promised would go out the door of our church,” said church pastor Dr. Howard-John Wesley. “We decided to come to Howard University to find some students who are about to change the world but have some financial concerns, and let them know we’re going to take care of it for them.”

34 graduating students, each with varying amounts of debt ranging from hundreds to thousands, benefited from the donation.

“The gift of $100,000 from Alfred Street Baptist Church to help our students pay off their financial obligations and make ends meet just before they graduate is truly a blessing,” said university president Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Their generosity is a reminder of how one person’s selfless act of kindness can be multiplied and have a profound impact on the lives of others.”

(WATCH the announcement video below)

Thank you @AlfredStreetBC for paying the balances that stood between 34 graduating seniors and their graduation in a few short months.



We appreciate your investment into our students and the priority placed into supporting the HBCU community. pic.twitter.com/UgoCGx9PEP — Howard University (@HowardU) February 4, 2019

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