What was once 28th Avenue in Tuscaloosa is now officially Nick’s Kids Avenue, a tribute to Nick and Terry Saban’s charitable children’s service organization.
The City of Tuscaloosa and Nick’s Kids Foundation on Thursday held a renaming celebration as a mark of gratitude for the University of Alabama head football coach and his wife’s dedication to serving the needs of local children. A parade led the Sabans, Mayor Walt Maddox and several groups of children to the site of what will soon be the Saban Center.
It's official! 28th Ave is now Nick’s Kids Avenue! The celebration of @NicksKidsFdn was nothing short of amazing, complete with the Saban's, Big Al, cheerleaders, and the Million Dollar Band! ? ?
? Caitlyn Ferson pic.twitter.com/gZBHvJKlFI
— Visit Tuscaloosa (@VisitTuscaloosa) August 5, 2021
The Saban Center, which is slated to open in 2024, is set to become a state-of-the-art learning center which will house the Children’s Hands-On Museum (CHOM), the Tuscaloosa Public Library, the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and a community black-box theater. It will also host STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs which will serve to prepare students for future career opportunities.
The Crimson Tide head football coach looks forward to the educational opportunities the Saban Center will provide to local youth.
“I think the children’s learning center that we’re all committed to will be something that helps young people have a better chance to be more successful in life because of the value of education and the attitude it takes to be successful,’ said Saban. “I also think this is a great example for our players, who usually participate in this but because of some COVID things are not here today, that they can give back to the community in a very positive way as well. This is a proud day for us, a day that we always enjoy, we thank all the people who support Nick’s Kids and who make events like this happen that makes our community better.”
The celebration is a sign of a community grateful for the significant impact Nick and Terry Saban have had in efforts to bring about positive change for local children, as expressed by Mayor Maddox.
“The Saban family doesn’t know how to do anything halfway,” said Maddox. “Their legacy is not built upon words, it’s built upon actions.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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