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Alabama Ledger
September 2021 - E-Edition
Nick's Kids 18th National Championship House
The Nick’s Kids Foundation and Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa was scheduled to dedicate the 18th National Championship Habitat House on Thursday, September 2 in Tuscaloosa. The home will belong to Joselyn Hamner and her two children, a 5-year old son and 1-year-old daughter. Shortly after the April 27, 2011 tornadodevastated Tuscaloosa, Nick’s Kids Foundation funded the “13 for 13” initiative to build 13 new Habitat homes, one in honor of each of the Alabama football's national championships dating back to the 1925 Rose Bowl. Since that time, Nick’s Kids has sponsored 5 more national championship Habitat homes, including the Hamner family’s home in honor of the 2020 National Championship.
The 18th house was funded with donations from Nick and Terry Saban, Mike Brunner, and other generous Nick’s Kids members. Homeowner Joselyn Hamner works in UA’s Environmental Services where she has been on the front lines of the pandemic, helping to keep the student athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and other students safe. She is excited to move into her new home. Her son is particularly thrilled that he will no longer have to share a room with his baby sister! The Hamner family’s 3 bedroom, 2 bath Habitat home was built primarily with volunteers, in cluding Coach Saban and many of the UA football players who installed doors, cut and installed shoe moulding, and prepared exterior landscaping beds. Mrs.
Terry and the UA football coaches’ wives “put the icing on the cake” (as Mrs. Terry described it) as they beautifully landscaped the house, like they have done for the other houses. Joselyn put in more than 250 hours of her own volunteer labor on the home, and will purchase the home at the appraised value through a 0% interest, 30 year mortgage. The 18th National Championship House became the first home in a new Habitat Tuscaloosa program called “Operation Transformation,” whereby students of the construction trades at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy (TCTA) will receive hands-on job training in their field. Last May, TCTA carpentry students helped frame the house, and TCTA electrical students did all the initial
wiring to make the house a “Smart Home.” TCTA plumbing students will work alongside their electrical and carpentry counterparts during the 2021-22 school year, in addition to HVAC students from Greene County High School. To complete the Hamner family’s blessing, High Socks for Hope, a non-profit founded by Tampa Bay Rays pitcher and Tuscaloosa native David Robertson and wife Erin, will fully furnish the home and stock it with kitchen and bathrooms supplies. Others who generously supported the 18th House include GAF which supplied the roofing mate rials, Wheat’s Carpet One which donated and installed the flooring, Barringer Tree Service which removed a tree, and First Presbyterian
Church which stocked the pantry, refrigerator and freezer with food in partnership with the West Alabama Food Bank. The Literacy Council of West Alabama provided books for the whole family, and Martinrea Corporation raised funds for a privacy fence to be installed later this month. The City of Tuscaloosa and Nick's Kids Foundation also recently held a parade and ceremony for the Nick’s Kids Avenue Jubile to celebrate the renaming of 28th Avenue to “Nick’s Kids Avenue.” Since Nick and Terry Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007, nearly $9 million has been given to more than 300 deserving charities and organizations throughout the state and surrounding areas. The Nick’s Kids Foundation is the official
charity of Nick and Terry Saban. The Nick’s Kids Foundation is a 501©3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resources for deserving organizations throughout the state of Alabama and Southeast. As 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 benefit the cause. The proceeds are given in support of children, family, teacher and student causes. Some of the Nick's Kids Foundation projects include Home Building Projects, the Nick's Kids Playgrounds along the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, the Alberta School of Performing Arts, as well as the Teacher's Excellence Awards Luncheon.
Water Levels Halt Search For Missing Swimmer
Gadsden State PTK members earn scholarships
Two Gadsden State College students have received scholarships as a result of their academic success and their membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “It’s always rewarding when our students are recognized for their achievements at Gadsden State,” said Melissa Davis, advisor of the Rho Rho Chapter of PTK. “Hard work pays off.” Jase Jelks is one of 208 PTK members named a 2021 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, and Kaylie Reeves received the Trustmark Workforce Development Scholarship. Community
Jelks, a Cherokee County native, received $1,000 for being named a Leader of Promise Scholar. The program is open to new PTK members to defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. A 2019 graduate of Pathways Academy, Jelks is a general studies major at Gadsden State with plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity. He was selected based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. The scholarship program is funded by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, which has a long history of providing
According to DeKalb
heavy rain and flooding conditions. These waters are very deceptive and fast currents in the surface are hard, if not impossible to see. We never want to have these kinds of calls,” said Welden. Fisher Rescue Squad, High Falls Park Staff, The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Geraldine Rescue Squad, Geraldine Fire Department and DeKalb Ambulance Service will resume operations as soon as water levels allow.
County Welden
Sheriff
Nick
Jase Jelks
degree or certification,” Davis said. Reeves, who is the 2019 salutatorian at Coosa Christian School, is studying early childhood education at Gadsden State. The scholarship is funded by Trustmark Corp., a diversified financial services company with 200 locations in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Kaylie Reeves
Emergency services were dispatched to High Falls Park on Monday, August 30, 2021, after authorities received reports of a missing swimmer. However, due to recent rains and flooding, Welden has confirmed that search and rescue operations have been temporarily postponed. “We urge the public to use extreme caution in and around water in
financial assistances to outstanding students in community colleges. Reeves, who lives in Gadsden, is one of 25 members of PTK to receive the Trustmark Workforce Development Scholarship, which is worth $200. “These scholarships are reserved for PTK members who plan to enter the workforce upon the completion of an associate
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