BROADVIEW, Ill. (WLS) — Sunday marks exactly four years since Illinois State University grad student Jelani Day went missing before his body was found weeks later in the Illinois River.

On Saturday, his mother continued her calls for justice in his case while shedding light on similar missing persons cases.

A fundraiser was held in his honor in Broadview.

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Jelani Day’s mother said she fights through her tears to put together the fundraiser, but said the purpose of it is beyond her grief – shedding light on missing persons cases while supporting their heartbroken families.

Music bathed the smiles on the people wearing ivory tones who came together for a purpose, birthed from Carmen Bolden Day’s pain.

“I wish he was here,” Carmen said. “I wish I didn’t have to do this. I don’t like doing this. I push myself to do this. But I know that he wouldn’t expect nothing less of me.”

Family, friends and community leaders gathered in Broadview for the Jelani Day Foundation’s 3rd Annual All-White Gala.

The event is held in memory of the Illinois State University grad student after he went missing in August of 2021. Nearly two weeks later, Jelani Day’s body was found in the Illinois River in Peru, Illinois.

The coroner said he drowned, but the manner of his death remains a mystery. That uncertainty created a mother’s mission.

“We’re wanting to provide that assistance, to share those resources that, along the way, I have gathered,” Carmen said.

She said that included raising awareness on missing Black and brown people, and the lack of attention their cases receive.

READ MORE | Jelani Day’s mother still determined to find out what happened to her son

With that in mind, the family gave attendees the first glimpse of a developing documentary titled, “Unheard: The Jelani Day Story.”

“Jelani’s never had any kind of, ever, any inclination that he wanted to harm himself,” his mother said in the documentary.

Though, it’s been exactly four years since Day went missing, his mother says she will continue to speak his name while renewing her calls for justice.

“Doing this with the foundation, it helps me. It helps me,” she said. “It helps me to know that I’m doing something for Jelani. I couldn’t save him, but I can help save somebody else.”