Selma University hosted a “Day of Unity” on its campus Saturday.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds to pay off the school’s more than $785,000 debt to the U.S. Department of Education and establish an endowment fund.

The event had a strong turnout, as Selma Mayor Darrio Melton and City Council members John Leashore, Susan Youngblood and Jannie Thomas all dropped by.

The city council donated $1,400 to the cause., while Randall Miller Funeral Home donated $500.

Several local businesses and organizations attended the event. FBLA students from School of Discovery (SOD) Genesis Center were in front of the school holding buckets and successfully got people to pull over and donate.

“My father went to Selma University and my mother attended R.B. Hudson High School,” said Crystal Boykin, FBLA Advisor at SOD.

“Delta Sigma Theta want to help the community,” said Elizabeth Hollie, a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “We believe in supporting education.”

Dorothy C. Barnes represented two groups: The Links, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta.  Barnes is the Link’s president for the Selma chapter.

“It was very happy to see the people come out and support Selma University,” Barnes said.

“It means a lot because we’re serving the community,” Legal Services Alabama Attorney Donovan McGuire said,

Selma University Vice President for Academic Affairs Stanford Angion said he was pleased to see the Queen City backing the college.

“It was very encouraging to see that the community is supporting us,” Angion said.

Selma High School band and R.B. Hudson cheerleaders performed at the five-hour event. Also, 105.3 FM hosted an eight-hour radio-thon to raise money for the school.

“Selma University is a pillar of the community,” Selma High band director Brandon Williams said.

Selma University’s parent organization, the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, is committed to raising $1 million for the university.