Tuscaloosa Community News: Grapes on the Green Returns, 1 Million Books and a $1M Gift to Stillman

Football season is here, school is back in full swing, and the community calendar is filling up fast. From a big night out for a good cause to a major win for childhood reading and a milestone gift for Stillman College, here is the positive news happening around Tuscaloosa and Northport right now.

What is Grapes on the Green, and when is it?

Grapes on the Green is PARA’s big annual fundraiser, and it returns Tuesday, September 22, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Iron & Ember at Ol’ Colony Golf Complex. The event was named the 2024 ARPA Innovative Special Event of the Year, according to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

This year’s restaurant lineup is a who’s who of local favorites: River, Southern Ale House, Billy’s Sports Grill, Jalapeños Downtown, The Sanctuary on 25th, TuscNY, Urban Bar & Kitchen and Lost Pizza Co. Guests move from chef to chef, sampling signature dishes paired with wines. The night also includes live music, indoor golf simulators and a silent auction.

Tickets are $250 per order and cover admission for two people. Proceeds help PARA keep investing in parks, programs and facilities across Tuscaloosa County — the same parks and green spaces that make our neighborhoods such great places to live.

Why is West Alabama celebrating 1 million books?

Here is a stat worth cheering for: 1 million free books have now been mailed to young children across West Alabama through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program sends a free, age-appropriate book every month to enrolled kids from birth until age 5, straight to their mailbox.

Locally, the effort is run through United Way of West Alabama’s Success By 6 program. To mark the milestone, they are hosting a free 1 Millionth Book Celebration on Saturday, October 3, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Tuscaloosa Public Library. Families and community members are invited.

Strong early-reading programs are one of those quiet quality-of-life factors families weigh when they pick a place to live. If you are relocating to Alabama with little ones, this is the kind of community support worth knowing about.

What does the $1 million gift to Stillman College mean?

Stillman College is one of 12 HBCUs nationwide receiving $1 million each from a historic $12 million Dimon Foundation investment, per the Tuscaloosa Thread. An endowment gift like this strengthens the school’s long-term financial footing, supporting students and programs for years to come.

Stillman’s campus in West Tuscaloosa has been part of this city’s story since 1876. Investments in the college ripple outward — into jobs, campus events and neighborhood momentum on the west side of town.

Frequently asked questions