Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban's paycheck has gotten almost as much publicity as his top ranked football team: $32 million over 8 years - roughly $4 million a year.
Wealth the Saban's believe in spreading around.
They support more than 100 charities throughout Alabama - many through their own group called "Nick's Kids," a fund raising operation that supports children's organizations.
"It goes to the neediest places within the state," says his wife, Terry Saban.
Programs like the United Way, RISE and United Cerebral Palsy have all benefited. The Saban's hold fund raisers - like their annual golf tournament. They also cut checks from their own bank account.
"Nick is able - through his speaking events - plus he has contracts for signing and advertising and that sort of thing - {to funnel all} of those funds to Nick's Kids. We personally fund at least 25% of the Nick's Kids account," says Terry.
The couple also gives generously to a fund at the University of Alabama that pays tuition for first generation college students.
"We have committed a million dollars to it," says Terry.
And that's just this year.
Terry Saban says the couple donated one quarter of Saban's yearly paycheck because they're living proof it's an important cause.
"Nick and I are both the first generation in our families to graduate from college. We can see firsthand what a difference it makes in the lives of the people to be able to go to college, to have more opportunities, to have more choices," she explains.
The First Lady of University of Alabama Football says her husband gets a lot of his personality from his dad: both men share that incredible personal drive, a history of coaching football and a special place in their hearts for young kids.
Nick's father made a living owning and running a gas station in West Virginia's coal mining country.
He was also a pop warner football coach who took matters into his own hands when his players couldn't get to practice because their parents were busy working in the coal mines.
"His dad bought a school bus and he would drive through the hills and valleys to pick these kids up," recalls Terry.
She says her husband has never forgotten that lesson and now dedicates his charity work to his father's memory.
"To this day - on Nick's dad's headstone, it says 'No man stands as tall as he who stoops to help a child'," smiles Terry.
An inspirational motto Nick and Terry Saban live by, on and off the field.
For More Information on Nick's Kids, click here:
http://www.nickskidsfund.com/
Nick's Kids Fund
Box 870323
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-8850
The Scholarship Fund for First Generation College Students:
http://www.ua.edu/giving.html
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