Ninth Annual Nick's Kids Luncheon Held on Wednesday
8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The ninth annual Nick's Kids luncheon was held Wednesday in The North Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium where checks totaling $480,000 were presented to 130 local and state non-profit organizations. Since Nick and Terry Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007, approximately $5 million has been given to more than 250 deserving charities and organizations throughout the state and surrounding areas.
The official charity of Nick Saban and his family, Nick and Terry invest their time and energy hosting luncheons, golf tournaments, scrimmages and other events to benefits the cause. Culminating in the Annual Fall Giveaway, the proceeds are given in support of children, family, teacher and student causes.
"This charity is very special to me because it's the one way that my father -- who probably had the greatest impact of anybody on me -- his legacy is sort of remembered because Nick's Kids is all about my dad," said Saban. "He always said `No man stands as tall as when he stoops to help a child.' So Nick's Kids really represents his legacy and what he was all about and tried to do. Terry and I have worked really hard to extend that through the years and are proud of what we've been able to do."
Some of the Nick's Kids projects include 15 for 15 Home Building Project following the April 27, 2011 tornado, the Nick's Kids Playground along the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, Teacher's Excellence Awards Luncheon and the Nick's Kids Playground at Alberta Performing Arts School. Most recently Nick's Kids is a contributor to the new YMCA of Tuscaloosa and is renovating the STTEP Building at Brewer Porch Children's Center.
Joining the Sabans at the annual luncheon were student-athletes Jonathan Allen, Bradley Bozeman, Jake Coker, Denzel Devall, Kenyan Drake, Robert Foster, Brandon Greene, Derrick Henry, O.J. Howard, Cyrus Jones, Ryan Kelly, Alec Morris, Reggie Ragland, A'Shawn Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson.
"I've said this many times before, that this day today is the happiest day of the year for me," added Saban. "This is the one thing that makes you feel so good about being able to help and give back to the community, give to so many organizations and so many young people who need the help and support."
In addition to their work with Nick's Kids, the Sabans have also been generous with their personal donations to The University of Alabama's scholarship fund. In June of 2008, Nick and Terry made a $1 million pledge to the University for first-generation scholarships.
