The first We are the World Festival this Saturday will exhibit the student body’s diverse heritage and offer a way for people to explore the different cultures surrounding them.

The festival is sponsored by three multicultural campus organizations: Hispanos Unidos, Essence of Ebony and the International Students Association.

Keri Gray, sophomore majoring in political science and communications from Longview, said those who planned the festival had two purposes.

“First, the festival is thrown to showcase all different cultures that reside here at ACU,” Gray said. “Secondly, we are wanting to provide a way to see culture, learn about culture and appreciate culture in a fun way.”

ACU has students from all 50 states, Gray said, as well as students from 60 countries, making it a converging point for multiple cultures.

“ACU is proud to have students from all over the world, and we want to provide a fun way to appreciate all these cultures,” Gray said.

Elroy Johnson, junior marketing major from Frisco and president of Hispanos Unidos, said all proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Don Williams Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to helping students at risk of not returning to ACU because of financial difficulties.

Eternal Threads and Invisible Children also will participate in the event, Johnson said. Eternal Threads will be selling their handmade goods.

The festival will be from 1-5 p.m. Saturday in the mall area in front of the McGlothlin Campus Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

“We are expecting not just the ACU community to come but a lot of people in the Abilene community,” Gray said.

SHADES, Swing Cats and the Milonga dance group will perform at the festival throughout the day, in addition to three choir sets from Minda Street Church of Christ. There will be bounce houses and multiple activities for kids, as well as refreshments and Cajun Cones, Gray said.

The festival is come and go, and admission is free. However, tickets for refreshments and activities at the festival will go on presale this week and can be purchased in the Campus Center between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. $4 will purchase eight tickets to use for various activities and refreshments. For students who donate a book to the Invisible Children book drive, eight tickets will cost $3. Tickets on the day of the event will cost 50 cents each.

“We are hoping that this will be a continuing tradition here at ACU,” Gray said.