The 40^th annual “A Day for Southern” is starting today to raise money for Georgia Southern University academics, scholarships, athletics, faculty and staff and community resources.

“I am especially excited about the kickoff of the community campaign phase of ‘A Day for Southern’ on September 10, and am grateful for the support of Statesboro-Bulloch County residents, businesses and alumni,” Brooks Keel, Ph.D., president of GSU, said in his most recent newsletter.

For the past 15 years, supporters have donated over $1 million each year through the A Day for Southern event, according to a news release.

The day will start with a breakfast at the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center, followed by Keel and Phyllis Thompson, “A Day for Southern” community chair, going out into the Statesboro and Bulloch County areas.

Keel and Thompson will be visiting places such as Statesboro Floor Covering and Tillman Brannen & Minick Farm Supply, according to the news release.

The day will end at the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center with a celebration and the revealing of how much money was raised for “A Day for Southern.”

A Day for Southern began for the purpose of covering financial needs that tuition, fees and state allocations do not cover, according to the foundation’s website.

According to the website, “The Georgia Southern University Foundation raises, invests and distributes private dollars needed to fund the programs, projects, scholarships, equipment and buildings that help Georgia Southern University earn and maintain a reputation for excellence.”