ALBANY — The Albany School District announced Feb. 24 that it had received a $66,635 donation on behalf of Harvey Kopp that will go towards a full bleacher replacement in the high school gymnasium.

The project will be the final phase in the gym’s recent renovations, which has included new wall signage, wall mats and an updated gym floor. 

The original wood bleachers were installed in 1964, but have begun to show excessive wear and tear in recent years. The new bleachers will be constructed from reinforced, durable, high-impact polyethylene plastic and will be designed to support severe impact blows while reducing cost replacement parts and annual maintenance. The bleacher project is scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2021.

Kopp was a 1958 Albany graduate and when announcing his donation told the school, “My mother always taught me that it was better to give than receive. Life has been good to me and Albany has been good to me. I am glad to be able to help.”