Alumni from Central High School in St. Paul, Minn., banded together over the weekend to host a fundraiser in order to raise money for a scholarship meant to honor Philando Castile, the Star Tribune reports.
According to the report, more than 500 attended Sunday's event—which included music, food and kids’ activities—at the St. Paul's Dunning Recreation Center. By the end of the day, total funds raised exceeded $25,000.
The Star Tribune notes that the fundraiser's initial goal of $10,000 had already been surpassed a week before the event even took place, according to organizers, thanks to an outpouring of donations.
Because Castile had worked with children as a beloved lunch supervisor at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School, the scholarship will be given to a Central High student from an underprivileged background who wants to pursue studies in education or child development.
"We have a lot of high school graduates working in elementary and middle schools, but they don't have their teachers license," Adrian Perryman, an organizer from Central High's class of 2003 told the Tribune. "These individuals relate to the students greatly, but they can't affect the curriculum."
"We all had a lot of rage and anger and grief, and we decided to channel that," another organizer, Karla Basta, from Castile's class of 2001, added. "Central is a really loyal school, and this was all done by Central alumni."
Castile's case sparked national outrage after he was shot and killed by St. Anthony, Minn., Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minn., last month. The immediate aftermath of the shooting was live-streamed on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds.
Philando's uncle, Clarence Castile, attended Sunday's fundraiser wearing a shirt reading, "RIP Philando."
"It's a beautiful thing that Philando's classmates think enough of him to want to build a scholarship in his name for needy kids," Clarence Castile said.
"It would be really dope if this scholarship could produce a couple of black teachers," Gregory Crockett, Philando Castile's best friend added, according to the Tribune.
Read more at the Star Tribune.