Albany, NY – In demonstration of its commitment to community and partnering with local charitable organizations, SUNY Polytechnic Institute today announced a fundraising event at its Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza raised more than $10,000 for the Rapp Road Historical Association (RRHA). The RRHA is dedicated to the preservation of Albany’s Rapp Road Community Historic District. Three tenants of SUNY Poly’s ZEN building, EYP, DPS and Danforth, each made donations of $2,500 to the RRHA at the gala on April 14th.

“SUNY Polytechnic Institute prides itself on preparing students and developing technologies for the future but understands the importance of preserving our history. The Albany NanoTech complex lies just beyond the Rapp Road community and fully supports efforts to preserve and revitalize the area,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, President and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “The history of Rapp Road provides a unique lesson in American history and it is our pleasure to work with the RRHA to keep their incredible story alive. We are also delighted that tenants of the NanoTech complex, such as EYP, DPS and Danforth, share in SUNY Poly’s commitment to our community.”

“We are absolutely thrilled that SUNY Poly recognizes the importance of the nearly 90 year old history of the Rapp Road community. The RRHA has been a labor of love and it is exciting and encouraging to receive such wonderful support from SUNY Poly, EYP, DPS and Danforth, which provides us the opportunity to advance our mission to preserve an area so important to the history of African Americans' arrival to Albany, NY, during the Great Migration Movement of the early 20th century,” said Beverly Bardequez, RRHA President.

The Rapp Road Community is a historic and uniquely significant part of the city of Albany, New York. Its history began in 1927 when the Reverend Louis W. Parson and his wife migrated to Albany from Shubuta, Mississippi. Parson encouraged friends and family to join him in Albany and escape the oppression, poverty and racism of the South. Those who moved to Rapp Road were among the 400,000 African Americans who left the South to seek better opportunities in the North during what has been called the Great Migration.

“DPS Advanced Technology Group is an international provider of professional services in Process Engineering Design and Project Management. Headquartered at 201 Fuller Road, Albany it is of vital importance that we support our local community,” said Barry O’Sullivan, DPS Vice President of Business Development. “We are pleased to support the Rapp Road Historical Association fundraising event.”

Robert Beck, Danforth President said, "Danforth has a long history of commitment to the communities where we serve. Supporting the RRHA is not only consistent with our corporate objectives but further demonstrates Danforth's long term vision and commitment to the Capital Region."

“As a design firm, EYP has a great appreciation for the historical significance of structures such as those on Rapp Road that were erected as a result of the great migration from the South. It is a privilege to support in the preservation of this historic community,” stated Tom Birdsey, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, President and CEO for EYP Inc.

In 2002, the Rapp Road Community was designated a New York State Historic District. In 2003, the Community was designated a National Historic District and was the first designation of its kind in New York State. Additionally, Rapp Road was recently designated as one of ‘Seven to Save’ Endangered Sites by the Preservation League of New York State.

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $43 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 4,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) in Troy, the Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua, and the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester where SUNY Poly also leads the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) at its Utica location and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com and www.sunypoly.edu.