Photo Caption: The employees of United Business Media helped raise funds for the gym renovations.

On the evening of Thursday, May 1, 2008 MercyFirst celebrated the grand re-opening of its gym made possible through generous donations from United Business Media (UBM). Since 2006, UBM has donated over $80,000 to help MercyFirst renovate its gym. The gym is host to a range of events throughout the year including basketball games, luncheons, indoor carnivals, and musical celebrations. All this use had left it badly in need of repair. UBM helped kick the renovations off two years ago with a $25,000 donation. Over the past two years the company has donated more than $80,000 to completely renovate the gym, starting off with a new paint job and ending with a new floor.

The gym is located on MercyFirst’s Syosset campus, which has provided residential services to boys in need since it was founded as an orphanage in 1894. 

United Business Media is a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.  The Manhasset office of UBM has been partnering with MercyFirst since 2002 to provide the boys on MercyFirst’s campus with expanded opportunities, including job-shadowing and one-to-one mentoring. In addition to their support of the gym renovations, UBM has made donations in support of other programs, including the Assistance Dog Program and Scholarship Program.