TUSCALOOSA, AL — Community leaders, supporters and families gathered at Jaycee Park Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for phase one of the new Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama clubhouse.
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The ceremony highlighted years of planning, fundraising and community collaboration to bring the project to life, with speakers emphasizing that the newly opened facility is only the first step in a multi-phase vision.
“This is not the end, it is just the beginning,” Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama CEO Kim Turner said, alluding to former Alabama football coach Nick Saban's words after winning his first national title with the Tide. “This is the ribbon-cutting for Phase One and I’m an old English teacher, and an old English teacher will tell you that when you have a one in an outline, you must have a two. So we have a Phase Two coming, and we have a Phase Three coming."
Turner said the idea for a new clubhouse grew from a simple conversation about renovating the existing building into a broader vision of starting fresh and creating a space designed to better serve children across West Alabama.
"During our first building safety inspection with our board committee, when I first got here, Coach Gary White — who used to work for Coach Bear Bryant — looked at me and said, ‘What’s your vision for this building?’ And I said, ‘We need some new paint and some new carpet — we can just fix it up here and there.’ And he said, ‘Well, I think you tear it down and start over.’
“What that did for me was give me permission to dream bigger,” she added
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox praised the collective effort behind the project, the contributions of Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner and the impact it will have on future generations, calling it a reflection of the community’s commitment to its youth.
“The fact that you care this much about the children of our city gives me great hope and inspiration,” Maddox said.
Maddox also spoke directly to the young people in attendance, encouraging them to take advantage of the opportunities provided through the club.
“If you read well, if you know your math, your science, your technology, you are going to be the most successful generation of Americans in our history,” he said.
The ceremony also featured remarks from club leadership and members, including Chief Development Officer Heather Shipley, who recognized the role of community partners, staff and volunteers in bringing the project to fruition.
“We are a family,” Shipley said. “These people have been working tirelessly for this, and this is just the beginning for the future of the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama.”
For some of the club’s members, the new facility represents more than just a building.
Fifteen-year-old Abriyah White, a longtime member and the club's Youth of the Year honoree, shared how the club helped her overcome personal challenges and build confidence.
“The club has a great staff that was so open to making me feel comfortable,” she said. “Because of the club, I am now in a position to be a mentor and create a safe space for everyone.”
Board leadership also reflected on the significance of the milestone. Paul Pradat, chair-elect of the organization’s board, called the project “an extraordinary gift” and said being part of the transformation was a privilege.
“The ability to be able to get involved… to be a part of this transition, is an extraordinary gift,” he said.
Turner said the organization’s long-term goal is to expand its reach and impact, serving more children and teens with high-quality programming.
“Our mission is clear: to serve more children, more teens, more often, with the highest quality programs we can provide here in West Alabama,” she said.
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