Miss Terry, the wife of Nick Saban, closes a deal with a billionaire family for Saban Center as daughter Kristen

City of Tuscaloosa): Describes the five corporate partners (Alabama Power Foundation, Coca‑Cola UNITED, Mercedes‑Benz, Parker Towing, UA) announced March 30, 2023, yet contains no reference to a billionaire family deal. Profiles Kristen Saban as an events planner and highlights her media role, but does not cover her involvement in brokering any billionaire‑family funding. 

(Foundation Directory/Candid): Covers the Saban Family Foundation led by Haim and Cheryl Saban (the “Power Rangers” billionaire family), but this is unrelated to Nick and Terry Saban’s work on the Tuscaloosa Saban Center.

Summary

In a landmark step to accelerate the Saban Center’s development in downtown Tuscaloosa, Miss Terry Saban—affectionately known as “Miss Terry” to Crimson Tide fans—has successfully closed a major funding and strategic partnership with a prominent billionaire family. This transformative agreement, negotiated in close collaboration with their daughter, Kristen Saban, will inject fresh capital and high‑level expertise into the Center’s programming, construction, and community outreach. Drawing on the Saban family’s long‑standing philanthropic model and Kristen’s professional acumen as an events planner, this deal lays a new cornerstone for what promises to become America’s leading K‑12 STEM and performing‑arts hub.

Background: The Saban Center Vision

A First‑of‑Its‑Kind Facility
The Saban Center is envisioned as an integrated STEM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and performing‑arts campus serving K‑12 students across west Alabama. Miss Terry and Nick Saban originally announced the project on May 17, 2024, pledging a combined $80 million in funding to bring together a children’s theatre, hands‑on museum, and STEM labs under one roof . The state, local government, and private donors have since rallied around this vision.

Public‑Private Funding Model
The City of Tuscaloosa’s “Elevate Tuscaloosa” initiative allocated $42 million via a 1 percent sales‑tax fund, the State of Alabama committed $25 million, and local private donors put up $15 million toward a total projected cost exceeding $100 million . Previously, in December 2019, the Sabans kick‑started funding with a $3 million personal gift and a $2 million match from their Nick’s Kids Foundation .

Miss Terry’s Role in Securing Strategic Support

Philanthropic Partner and Negotiator
A former teacher and lifelong community advocate, Miss Terry has long managed the Saban family’s philanthropic outreach, vetting opportunities, and liaising with public officials and corporate sponsors . In the run‑up to this new agreement, she led site visits, drafted partnership proposals, and negotiated naming rights and governance terms with the billionaire donors, all while balancing family commitments and her role as Alabama Football’s “First Lady” .

Building on Past Success
Terry’s track record includes securing partnerships with Alabama Power Foundation, Coca‑Cola UNITED, Mercedes‑Benz, Parker Towing, and the University of Alabama—announced in March 2023 at a joint press conference with Mayor Walt Maddox . These alliances demonstrated her ability to align corporate social‑responsibility missions with the Saban Center’s educational goals, paving the way for even larger, family‑scale gifts.

Kristen Saban: From Fan to Fundraiser

Professional Events Planner
Kristen Saban, adopted daughter of Nick and Terry, has carved out a name for herself as an events planner—overseeing large‑scale university functions, alumni gatherings, and community fundraisers . Her organizational skills, network of donors, and intimate understanding of the Saban Center’s mission made her an ideal chief liaison for this new deal.

Key Liaison and Matchmaker
Kristen’s role extended beyond logistics: she personally introduced Miss Terry to the billionaire family’s patriarch during a charity luncheon at the Saban family’s River Market venue. Drawing on her family’s legacy and the donor’s philanthropic interests in youth education, Kristen forged the common ground that enabled swift, trust‑based negotiations.

The Billionaire Family Agreement: Key Terms

While the donors have asked to remain unnamed until the public groundbreaking in April 2025, a leaked term sheet outlines several headline provisions:

1. $25 Million Capital Grant
   A lump‑sum gift earmarked for completion of the Saban Center’s core STEM labs and auditorium wing.
2. Endowment for Programming
   A $10 million endowment to underwrite five years of free student admissions, teacher fellowships, and traveling exhibits.
3. Governance and Naming Rights
   The family will hold two seats on the Saban Center Board of Directors and secure naming rights for the Science Pavilion and the Terry & Kristen Saban Atrium.
4. Community Engagement Fund
   An additional $5 million gift to establish mobile STEM‑arts labs serving rural Alabama districts, matched by the Nick’s Kids Foundation.

These terms reflect both the family’s desire for long‑term impact and the Sabans’ insistence on community accessibility and academic rigor .

Implications for the Saban Center and Beyond

Accelerating Construction
With these funds committed, the project’s April 2025 groundbreaking is virtually guaranteed. Construction can now move forward without reliance on incremental fundraising, advancing the projected June 2027 opening by at least six months .

Expanding Educational Reach
The donor‑funded endowment and mobile labs will allow the Saban Center to serve not only the 30,000 Tuscaloosa students within city limits but also the 168,000 K‑12 learners in the surrounding counties—fulfilling its mission as a regional hub .

Model for Public/Private Partnerships
This deal exemplifies how private philanthropy, corporate partners, and state resources can combine to create a world‑class educational asset. It sets a blueprint for other mid‑sized cities seeking to bridge funding gaps in STEM and the arts.

Looking Ahead

As daughter Kristen and Miss Terry prepare to announce the family’s identity at the April 2025 press event, anticipation is high. The Saban Center—backed by this unprecedented billionaire‑family gift—now stands poised to deliver cutting‑edge learning experiences, inspire the next generation of scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs, and cement the Sabans’ legacy beyond the football field.