Passing The Torch: Gloria Coppola

   As said in our last post, MWB had an amazing first year. There were bumps in the road along the way but we all came together to not just help other MTs in our profession but also help each other as the organization grew into the non-profit it is today. With a strong Board of Directors to birth and develop Massage Without Borders, we really made a lot of strides. Now it is time for those members to step-down and say goodbye as a new eager group of board members come into place for the coming term.
   As they get ready to pass on the legacy they leave, they have given us advice, instructions, helpful tips, and big shoes to fill. I spoke with the "mother" of MWB, Executive Director Gloria Coppola about what she hopes Massage Without Borders does in the coming year and what advice she had for us who are stepping into these positions. Here is what she had to share:

In the last year we have seen MWB grow in various ways...what accomplishment are you most proud of?
   "I am most proud of a community that came together quickly to help our colleagues. ABMP, Massage Magazine, Educators and massage companies never hesitated to help the mission. I also want to thank all my students who were also right there to support every fundraiser event we held. I know without them, we  would not have been as successful. They are awesome!  As a result of all these individuals we were help to create a natural crisis fund, medical fund and scholarship fund. Quite an amazing accomplishment that I still cannot fully believe!"

What obstacles did you have to overcome during your term?
   "The main obstacle was learning how to run a 'virtual' business. It's very different than having people in an office. It took a bit of creative thinking and managing. It was no easy feat to communicate with volunteers, regional coordinators and board members in different time zones.   
   The other challenge is determining who qualifies for funds. It is so hard when you can't help everyone that is in severe crisis.  We did our best with what we had and what we were capable of doing while we initiated this non profit."

What would you like to see happen with the organization in the coming year?
   " I would love to see MWB continue to grow for our colleagues. It would be wonderful to get sponsors and grant monies for funds to help the MT's in crisis. In Nov 2012, we started with $0. Operating under emergency response was quite intense and I am proud to say we came out in the green.
   I believe with our new executive director and president, who have fundraising background, they will be successful in this project.  Now that the groundwork has been set, stay the course and MWB being the only organization that helps MT's in crisis, will go down in massage history."

Will you still be involved with MWB in some way?
   " I will be on the advisory counsel for MWB. How can I not stay involved? I have passion for this profession and love MT's. I am a helper, caregiver and responder. I feel the knowledge I obtained pulling this project together will help the new board members avoid some trials that we had to learn blindfolded."

What advice do you have for the new board members and volunteers?
   " The best advice I can give the new Board is EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. It is crucial for success. I was fortunate to have a strong team come together and their willingness to step up at any moment, at any hour. Develop a strong family. Know each other and how you can best compliment each other. One person cannot run this organization - it must be a team."

Anything else you would like to add?
   " I would like to say it has been an honor to be the founder of this mission. It was truly God's call, not mine. I realized through this project, that my career in massage has provided me many wonderful connections with my colleagues. Who knew that I would place a few phone calls and the responses to help were immediate. I cried.
   Without them, this could never have happened. Bill Fee, president stepped up immediately and never left my side no matter what hardships we had to walk through. I could not have asked for a better right hand comrade, the board secretary Kate Hudak; she kept me from pulling my hair out on many occasions (and I, hers).  Running any business requires a team and mine grew into a family I will always honor, respect  and appreciate, every board member, every volunteer, every sponsor that helped in any capacity. I am in awe.

   When I look at the accomplishments in one short year that helped so many colleagues because of compassion in our community, I know we are all blessed."

MWB: A Year in Review and Open Board Positions

   Wow hard to believe Massage Without Borders is one year old already. In this first crucial year we have done so much, and everyone who has supported us and reached out to us has been a motivation and inspiration. Let's take a look back at all that has been accomplished:

November/December 2012:
 -A former student and massage therapist of Gloria Coppola reached out for help in NJ after Hurricane Sandy hit and her business was destroyed.
-Massage Without Borders was born, thanks to Executive Director Gloria Coppola and President William Fee and several other massage colleagues.
-Thanks to several massage suppliers many tables were given to MTs in need.
 * This included 3 B American, Oakworks, Custom Craftworks, Earth Lite and Master Massage, One Concept and Massage Warehouse.
 * Massage Magazine and Massage Pro C.E. provided gift cards for some MT's to help with Thanksgiving dinner along with gift baskets also provided by Massage Pro C.E. (Gloria Coppola's Education company)
-The first Adopt an MT campaign awarded a $3000 check to Compass Spa which suffered severe loss after Hurricane Sandy. Owner Monique Frost is grateful and overwhelmed with all the support.
- $1,000 is donated to Lisa Mayer for her losses in Hurricane Sandy



January 2013:
-Volunteers start coming together from all over the country, and even a few international ones.
-MWB's first Online Auction filled with over $9,000 worth of product raises $4,475, and Nina Howard donates $1000 from a raffle that Bellanina, her company raised.
-Planning begins for National Fundraising event for May 2013.
-Virtual Benefit Concert airs hosted by The Massage Nerd, bringing in more donations for our colleagues. Some of our very own colleagues shared their musical talents, including David Lauterstein author of Deep Massage. Les Sweeney of ABMP stops by to support MWB with a Live message on the show.
-MWB gains more support from businesses like Bellanina Institute, Spa Success LLC, and Tiger Lily Studios,  International Spa Institute, Massage Promotions, Carteret Community College and educators Whitney Lowe and Erik Dalton speak on MWB's behalf.
- MWB T Shirts were released and ABMP helps sponsors along with co sponsors BioFreeze, Massage Magazine, Oakworks, Massage Connection, The Pampered Spirit, Massage Pro CE, FA Davis Co, DayBreak Geratric Massage, Freedom From Pain, Mother Earth Pillows and many others.

February 2013:
-MWB releases their new slogan : "Compassion, Cooperation, Community"
-Massage Without Borders blog is created

March 2013:
-MWB is featured in ABMP's Massage & Bodywork Magazine, Vermont AMTA's blog, and a newspaper in Missouri.
-MWB attends Kentucky and North Carolina AMTA conferences
-Aunty Margaret Humanitarian Awarded to Gloria Coppola for her work with Massage Without Borders by The World Massage Festival
-School posters now available to help spread the word about MWB
-Funds donated to scholarhsip fund by BonVital and Massage Book..approx $2000 total
-More and more schools join up for our National Event
- Massage Magazine continues their support monthly by updating readers with their online newsletter.

Our MWB volunteers from the UK

April 2013:
-LMT Julie Bunnell needs emergency brain surgery, MWB sets up GoFundMe accoutn and starts raising funds for medical expenses. Anatomy in Motion  helps MWB by posting on FaceBook to raise funds . Approx $8000 is raised.
-MWB reaches 150  virtual volunteers
-AMTA Oregon includes MWB in their newsletter
-Massage Without Borders is 501(c)3 approved!

May 2013:
-Artistry E-Auction goes live, with many items donated from generous artists
-MWB attends American Massage Conference thanks to One Concept
-Executive Director Gloria Coppola is interviewed by Hay House Radio on Acts of Kindness Radio Show

June 2013:
-National Event goes live, with donations coming in from many schools all over the US. Grand Prize is a LIFETIME scheduling service donated by Bodywork Buddy. This event raised approx $5000!
-Educational E-Auction & Telethon goes live, with many learning tools up for bid from generous massage educators and companies. This auction raised over $2,500!
-MWB is live on the MassageNerd show online again!
-MWB attends the FSMTA Convention, raffling off a large basket of goodies work over $1,000 to one lucky MT. Thanks to FSMTA for their generous donation to provide a booth for MWB!

Kate Hudak, Gloria Coppola, and Kaye Jackson Hughes at FSMTA

July 2013:
-MT Pamela Rapinan is badly burned after fainting while cooking. MWB assists in raising funds towards her medical expenses, and with the help of Anatomy in Motion posting on their fan page again. Approx $2000.
-National Holistic Institute's blog features a piece on Massage Without Borders
-Two students are awarded with scholarships from MWB, $1000 to a student in Dayton, Ohio and $500 to a student in New Mexico.
-Ink Cartridge Fundraiser begins, anyone can donate their cartridges through Funding Factory, who will donate proceeds to MWB.
- Grant Research begins

August 2013:
-Second scholarship fund becomes available.
-MWB signs up with GoodSearch, a search engine who will donate proceeds to the charity you select every time you use their site to search!
-First annual board meeting, lots of brainstorming and great ideas are born on how to better serve our community. Two new board members are inducted. Advisory counsel is put in place.
-Massage Without Borders fan page on Facebook reaches 3500 fans.

September 2013:
-Executive Director Gloria Coppola visits with the students at Florida School for Natural Health about MWB.
-2nd VP Tammy Parrish visits with a school in St. Augustine to talk about MWB.
-1st VP Shawnda Kettles visits with students at Southeastern Institute in South Carolina and chats about MWB.

October 2013:
-Two more scholarships are awarded, $1000 to a student in South Carolina and $500 to a student in Florida. Both students also received many other goodies such as DVDs, Books, and supplies from BonVital.
-Oct 29th is the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy.

Volunteer/Student Nakia from Tennessee displays our poster in her school

November 2013: Restructure and Board Positions
-  As you can see it has been a busy year, full of accomplishments, kindness extended by strangers, and shaping and developing Massage Without Borders as a whole. Now as the year winds down we wonder what 2014 will bring. One thing is for certain, without all of the continous support from our friends, fans, volunteers, and colleagues, we would not be where we are today.

 Thanks you to all; the ones who share our posts about practitioners in need, the ones who spread the word about our mission, the ones who encouraged us over the bumps in the road, and the ones whose generosity make our mission possible.

What will 2014 bring? No one knows, but with the support we have behind us, I am excited to find out the next step we move forward in. We ask for your continued support.

If you are interested in a board position, please send resume to massagewithoutborders@gmail.com.
Positions for treasurer, secretary, 2nd VP are open January 2014.
 Many blessings to all, thank you for a great first year, with many more to come.

Fall 2013 Scholarship Announcement

   All of us at Massage Without Borders would like to congratulate Kaytee Thomas of the International Spa Institute in South Carolina for winning our $1,000 scholarship! Kaytee will also be receiving an Oakworks table, BonVital product, books from FA Davis Publishers, and a Massage Magazine insurance policy. We also congratulate Jennifer Tescher from Florida College of Natural Health on winning a $500 scholarship, along with a basket of helpful learning tools and products valued over $250! We hope that these ladies continue to enjoy their education and develop their skills to become outstanding MTs, and can experience some relief with having less student debt to be concerned about.

Kaytee Thomas, our $1000 Scholarship Winner

International Spa Institute owner Linda Beach and Florida College of Natural Health Director Linda Debarros are very proud of these students! Interested in applying for a scholarship? Keep an eye out on our blog, website, and Facebook page for when we will be accepting applications for next season's scholarship, and our next winner could be you!

Interview w/ Pamela Rapiñan

Pamela Rapiñan, a Massage Therapist in WA, was cooking at home one day when suddenly she became unconscious. When she awoke, she had burns all over her body. She had no health insurance and did not qualify for Medicaid. Her friends reached out to Massage Without Borders, and we set up a way for people to donate to Pamela's medical fund. Approximately $2200 was raised in about a month. We contacted Pamela to see how she is recovering and how she felt about her situation and the help that was given, and here is what she had to say...

How did you learn about Massage Without Borders and why did you reach out to MWB for help?

"Barbara Heard and Collette Wilson contacted Gloria [and told her about my situtation, asking if there was anything MWB could do to help. Gloria reached out and MWB set up a way for people to donate money to me via the Adopt an MT campaign]."

What kind of assistance were you looking for? What kind of assistance were you given through MWB?

"I was not looking for anything specifically, but I found prayers and words of kindness from all over the world, and amazing kindness from Anatomy in Motion who also helped MWB raise funds too. [Approximately] $2200 was raised."

How has the assistance you received from MWB impacted your life?

"It restored my faith in good things; I would have never been able to pay any bills [without the assistance from MWB]...I make too much income for state assistance and have not worked since the accident."

What has your experience made you most thankful for?

"I am most thankful for friends and random acts of kindness from fellow massage therapists."

Do you think Massage Without Borders is a valuable resource for our comunity? Why?

"Yes! Gloria was phenomenal, and MWB (Along with Anatomy in Motion) really stepped up when my friends and family could not. I am very grateful for all of you!"

Have you become a volunteer or plan to in the future?
"I don't plan to currently, but I will give back to those around me in the form of healing through massage."

Anything else to add?

"The detox off pain meds has been really awful and the continued support in prayer and kind words from my new friends all around the world has been so amazing during my healing! You really find out in crisis who your real friends are and I am forever grateful for the ones who gave tremendous time and energy at home helping me as I recover!

I still haven't figured out why the universe wanted me to go through this life lesson and am fighting hard daily to get back to 'Supersonic Pam' so I can continue helping people heal.

Be in the moment, choose happy, and notice beauty everyday and be thankful that you can."


Pamela after the burns in the hospital Pamela Now  

Interview w/ Julie Bunnell

   Many of you might remember Julie from our previous posts on our blog and on Facebook. Julie is a self-employed massage therapist who found out she needed emergency brain surgery after getting frequent migraines and seizures.
    Massage without Borders set up a fundraiser and raised approximately $8,000 towards her medical expenses. Julie's surgery went well and the tumor they biopsied came back benign. She missed two months of work but thanks to all the generous donations from everyone she now does not have the burden of debt weighing on her shoulders. Julie talked with us recently about her experience and how grateful she is for the kindness of strangers and all the help she was given through Massage Without Borders. Here's what she had to say:

  How did you learn about Massage Without Borders and why did you reach out to MWB for help?
"My good friend Robin Lawder actually reached out to MWB for me. We both knew Gloria [the executive director for Massage Without Borders] and Robin contacted her the same day I found out I needed emergency brain surgery. Right before I was moved from Liberal, Kansas to Wichita for surgery I was told that they had set-up a fundraiser for me [on GoFundMe.com]."

  What kind of assistance were you looking for and what were you given through MWB?
"I had no idea financially what monetary amount was needed, and I did not expect anything. What was amazing was the amount of strangers that were contributing money and reading all the well-wishes. It really made me reassess my own standards of generosity.I was blown away by all the support, and MWB raised [approx. $8,000] for me."

  How has the assistance you received from MWB impacted your life?
"Hugely; I received charity from local hospitals and family, but there were still bills...the assistance I received from Massage Without Borders helped me come out even, meaning I have no debt. All that I lost was time off of work. I had never had health problems before, so I didn't know what to expect financially [for medical costs]. Seeing the hospital bills was terrifying, but having the money in the bank to pay them took a huge load off."

  What has your experience made you most thankful for?
"I have lots to be thankful for! I am thankful for the generosity and kindness of strangers, for the donations and pages of comments that were all very humbling and moving to read, and of course I am thankful for being cancer-free and having my health...but most of all I am thankful for not being in debt. Thanks to MWB I don't have huge bills overhead or have to worry about declaring bankruptcy, which was a very real possibility."

  Do you think Massage Without Borders is a valuable resource for our community? Why?
Yes! We all [as massage therapists] understand what it is like to have no insurance and depend on every client for your income and the financial uncertainty that comes with that. Being able to ask for prayers or energy and to read all of these well-wishes, how can you not be affected positively? The connections are also valuable; to be able to reach a lot of people instantly as a community of support. When someone is in a scary time, [a resource like this] is pretty invaluable.


  Have you become a volunteer or plan to in the future?
"I definitely plan to become a volunteer, I just don't know where to start to be honest. I am trying to figure out how to volunteer my time from the middle of nowhere. Trying to figure out where I would fit [in the organization]. I want to volunteer; this all has definitely changed the way I donate and view generosity towards others. Recently I donated to Pamela Raven [another recipient of assistance from MWB] and I never would have expected to be able to be in a position where I could do that today if not for the help I received."


  Anything else you would like to add?
"Overall I have been more positive since it all happened. I have been so much more grateful, holding onto that feeling in the moment of "It'll all be okay", and that is an awesome moment."

Remember, you can volunteer from anywhere! There are many things you can do from your computer just by sharing our events and website. You can help with fundraising events or schedule a small one in your local town. You can get involved in whatever capacity works for you. Contact us for more details at vp2mwb@gmail.com!

2013 Humanitarian Award

Congratulations to MWB for winning the 2013 Aunty Margaret Humanitarian Award for their compassionate service to our colleagues!

James Waslaski presented the award to former 1st VP Kathy J Burley earlier this month.

Scholarship Announcement!

   All of us here at Massage Without Borders are happy to announce our first scholarship winners! Amanda Van Buskirk from Dayton School of Medical Massage in Ohio won a $1000 scholarship, and Theresa Hyman from Body Care School of the Healing Arts in New Mexico won a $500 scholarship. Both ladies also are receiving a student massage table package from Oakworks! Congratulations to both of you, may the scholarships lessen your financial burden as you embark on this journey to become wonderful, knowledgeable, healing bodyworkers! Enjoy everything your education has to offer you!

Theresa Hyman receiving her $500 check with her school director Veronica Hernandez

Special thanks to Oakworks, Massage Book, and Bon Vital for contributing to this scholarship mission, and also thank you to everyone who participated in the National Event raising funds so we can make these scholarship opportunities happen. :) We now have fall scholarships available! Interested in applying? Just head over to our website for more details and an application.

Call to Action: Pamela Raven, a fellow MT in need

   Pamela Raven is a massage therapist from Washington. Three weeks ago she was cooking at home when suddenly she fainted. Twenty minutes later she woke up to burns all over body. She now has to have extensive skin grafting done. As horrifying as this is, it could happen to any of us. Pamela does not have health insurance and does not qualify for Medicaid, so she has to rely on money out of her own pocket for all the expenses she is about to have, and the bills will be adding up quickly.

Pamela before accident doing pet therapy

Pamela post-accident

 

   

  
   Massage Without Borders is a newer 501(c)3 non-profit so we do not have funds readily available at this time to cover her expenses. However, we also do not want Pamela to have this heavy financial burden to deal with when she gets home from the hospital either, and will use what resources and opportunities we have to raise funds to help her. So we look to you, our volunteers and supporters, to help us by "adopting" this massage therapist. As we have said before, every penny counts, so whether you can spare $5 or $50, the relief and overwhelming joy that a person feels when they know they're community is stepping up to assist them is priceless. Take it from Julie Bunnell, the MT who needed emergency brain surgery a few months ago...MWB had so many amazing supporters who jumped in and total donations were approximately $8,000. We just received this letter from Julie a few days ago: 

"It is hard to sum up how big of an impact Massage Without Borders has had on my life. It is remarkable that a few people can network and raise thousands of dollars in a few days, but they did that and more. When you are sick and have hundreds of people rally around you financially, and hundreds more praying for you, it is impossible to not have your outlook on life shift; because of the tremendous moral support I received, I had a much easier recovery...and because of MWB, I will have a much quicker financial recovery from this unexpected ordeal as well.  It seems cliche to say that my faith in humanity has been affirmed, but that is the truth. I can never say enough thank you's to the people who donated to me--a perfect stranger. All I can say is that for the rest of my life I will follow their example. Thank you, all. Julie Bunnell, LMT"

   

   This is why we do what we do. This is why Massage Without Borders exists. Julie's words show us just how much of an impact you can have on someone you have never even met, and you can feel the gratitude coming from her letter. 

   If you are interested in adopting a MT in need and, more specifically, helping Pamela out financially as she recovers, you can donate directly via our website under Adopt an MT. Please write "Pamela Fund" in the comment section of your donation. Each of us may be one person, but we all know the power that can happen when we all come together. At the time I am writing this, we have approx $900 in donations, in just a couple days time, but as we know medical bills are expensive and we still have a ways to go. With just a few clicks on our website you can help us get closer to our goal, and most importantly give hope and light to someone who needs it. 

Events of June 2013

   We recently had the opportunity to attend the Florida State Therapeutic Massage Association conference and what a great weekend it turned out to be! Gloria and Kate met many amazing people, welcomed a few more volunteers to the team, and had a great inspiring time with FSTMA! $500 was raised for Massage Without Borders, and there was a basket of goodies valued at $1000 that was raffled off and won by new MT Crystal Bowman! Congratulations Crystal, what a great way to start your career with a basket of products from our awesome contributers Biotone, Anita Shannon of Ace Cupping, Ivy Joe Staton of Bamboo Fusion, Gloria Coppola and her lomilomi book, DVDs, CDs, textbooks and more!

Kate Hudak, Gloria Coppola, and Kaye Jackson Hughes at FSTMA

Linda Beach presenting Crystal with her basket!

   During this time we also had our Educational E-auction and Telethon, which raised approximately $2500! A huge thank you to all of our supporters and contributing educators; every one of you matters and without your support we wouldn't be where we are today! Not only did you invest yourself in Massage Without Borders, you also invested in products and knowledge to help you further your career and become a better practitioner...how great is that?

   ***Attention: Aside from all the successful fundraising, Massage Without Borders' Board of Directors also has some important news for our team of active volunteers. We are currently accepting applications for two Vice President positions, and are also accepting nominations for Regional Coordinators, Assistant Regional Coordinators, and a Team Leader. If you or someone you know has a passion for MWB, wants to motivate others while collaborating with the board on projects and events, and/or feels called to do more within the organization, please contact Executive Director Gloria Coppola at massagewithoutborders@gmail.com for more information on these positions and what is required. The board will be voting soon, so send over your resume today! From MWB to all of our supporters we send our love and gratitude each day, for so many of you have stepped up, stepped in, and come together to help out our fellow bodyworkers! 

Results of May Fundraising

   The past month has been a busy time for our volunteers. We had the Art E-Auction, which raised about $400, and the National Event which has raised $3,100 and we still have more coming in to add to the total! Thank you to all the volunteers, businesses, and schools who participated. I wish I could hug each one of you in person, but I guess virtual hugs will have to suffice for now, so a big (((HUG))) to all of you, and we look forward to collaborating with you on future projects. It is a great thing to see when we all come together to help each other through Massage Without Borders. Your support never goes unappreciated and your hard work never goes unnoticed. We love our volunteers and partners!

   Next event is our Educational E-Auction & Online Telethon from June 23rd to 30th! Bid on textbooks, DVDs, home study courses, and workshops. Educators interested in donating any of these materials to the auction can fill out an application on our website. Students and LMTs can help the community by fund raising, and in return get the products they need to expand their professional knowledge. The telethon will take place LIVE June 26th at 9:30pm EST co-hosted by Ryan Hoyme (aka "The Massage Nerd") and Gloria Coppola. Come chat with the educators, including Erik Dalton, Irene Diamond, Gloria Coppola, Linda Beach, Sharon Puszko and many more! Thank you to BioFreeze and MassagePro CE for sponsoring this event. Click here to join the event via Facebook, and mark it on your calendar now, because it's coming soon and you won't want to miss this great opportunity to connect with educators in the field! See you there!

   One more note: as stated in the last post, tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, and after that post was published they had more go through the area and surrounding states. Although the assistance of MWB has not been needed for these disasters we still send our thoughts out to the families and relief crews out there working to recover and clean-up the aftermath. As of right now there are also wildfires blazing through California, Arizona, and the biggest one through Colorado. There has been many evacuations and we will keep everyone up to date with whatever action we need to take. Please keep all areas in your thoughts and prayers and send healing energy especially to Colorado as they fight this fire that has already consumed over 500 acres. Namaste. 

Another Call to Action and Some Good News

Yesterday, tragedy hit Oklahoma. An F4 tornado ripped through the city of Moore, leaving massive devastation in its wake. Families torn apart and homes and business destroyed, this tornado was said to have been one of the worst OK has ever seen. All of us at MWB send out prayers,positive thoughts and healing energy to the families affected by this disaster. We will keep everyone posted of any bodyworkers who need our help and different ways you can contribute. Right now the board is working behind the scenes to determine what needs to be done, and we have volunteers in Oklahoma who are ready to help in any way they can.

   If you or someone you know has been affected by the tornadoes that ripped through the Tornado Valley and need assistance, please contact Massage Without Borders right away and let us know what you need, and we will do our best to find support or resources. Our contact info is at the bottom of the blog. Want to help those in need right now? On our website there is a donation button linked to our disaster relief fund, or if you would like to help out families who have been impacted by the disaster and have the ability to send text messages on your phone, you can text STORM to 80888 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army, REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross, or FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the Oklahoma Food Bank. The money will just be added to your phone bill.  As previously stated, we will keep everyone updated on how you can help any practitioners in need as well. 

  Now, I think we could all use a little piece of good news, so it is with my utmost pleasure to announce that as of April 2nd, 2013 Massage Without Borders is FINALLY 501(c)3 APPROVED! Congratulations to everyone who has made this possible and jumped through every hoop to get this accomplished. We are now a truly official non-profit organization, at only 6 months old, and there's still bigger and better things to come to MWB this year, I can feel it! Also as a second bit of good news, our Executive Director Gloria Coppola was interviewed today by Louise Hay, author, publisher, personal assistant for the Hay House Radio Show "Acts Of Kindness"! The interview will air in June over 15 times across the world! How awesome is that? With so much going on behind the scenes and in the news, now is as good of a time as ever to actively join us and see what you can do as an MWB ambassador for your community and what we can do as an organization for our country. Be a helper, a doer, a fundraiser, a motivator, or even just a facebook event and info sharer. There's much to be done and much you can do, so get in contact with us today!

May Fundraising

Whew! May must be the month for fundraising. We have two fundraising events this month and active volunteers doing projects as well. With all of these exciting opportunities to help out Massage Without Borders, it can be hard to keep track of what is coming up! That is why if you go on Facebook and click on the events section of our fan page, you can easily join the events and Facebook will remind you what is coming up each week! You won't want to miss the fun, so here is what's coming up:

May 12th is our Artistry E-Auction. Looking for a piece of decor to really pull that room together? Relax in your pajamas with a cup of tea and order some great art pieces straight from your computer! It doesn't get much easier. 

Month of May any day is our National Fundraising Event in Schools and Businesses! We have a great number of places who will be donating a portion of their proceeds from massages that day to MWB. Proceeds we receive will go towards our scholarship fund, which leads me to my next announcement...

Our Student Scholarship Fund is now available! If you are enrolled in an approved massage school and experiencing a financial crisis concerning your tuition payment, you may be eligible to receive a scholarship. After reviewing applications and picking recipients in June, two scholarships for this season will be handed out in the amounts of $500 and $1000. More information on qualifications and the application can be found on our website. 

A big THANK YOU goes out to all the schools and businesses involved in our first National Fundraising Event, and to all the hardworking volunteers and coordinators also supporting Massage Without Borders. Also thank you to Bon Vital for contributing $1,000 and Massage Book Scheduling for contributing $500; because of people like all of you, we can help not only our colleagues in crisis, but our future colleagues as well! 

Update

Just an update on what's going on...

  A note from Julie Bunnel, the colleague we have been raising money for who had emergency brain surgery on a mass (that thankfully was found to be benign!) earlier this month:
  Hi all, I'm sill doing great! I get stronger every day, and in less pain from the sutures every day. I just got to my parents home in Lake Havasu, AZ yesterday. And I will be here for the rest of april. I feel kinda epicly lazy, but I am trying to not over do it and build up my strength gradually. As far as how I am doing, I am just so incredibly happy! I still can't stop smiling. To live in a time when someone can use a machine to look inside your brain, and say, "hey look! You have something in there! We are just going to cut that sucker out." I can't really get over my joy. :-) Thank you, so much for your prayers and EVERYTHING! xoxo Julie

  Julie's fundraiser is open until the end of April. So far $7,800 has been raised. Woohoo! However, Julie is still in recovery and out of work, and the bills will be coming in the mail soon, so please consider donating to the cause! Here is the link: http://www.gofundme.com/2hf79k There is also info there on where to send a check if you prefer.

   Also, remember our Art Auction coming up on May 12th! Do you have a creative side? Consider donating an art or craft to the auction! The forms are on our website. If you're one of those people who spend hours on Pinterest pinning projects you'll accomplish "someday", then this auction gives you the chance to skip all the hard work and "pinterest fails" and buy some great handmade decor from your computer! Save the date on your calendar, or better yet, join the event page on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/502332409818198/

Hope to (virtually) see you there!

Call To Action: MT Needs Emergency Brain Surgery

   Julie Bunnel is a massage therapist from Kansas who is in need of immediate brain surgery. She thought she had the flu, started getting migraines, then seizures, and now needs emergency surgery. She is only 27 years old, loves to volunteer, and is always helping others. It is our turn to help her! Julie is self-employed and is without health insurance, so within minutes off finding out Julie needed surgery, Massage Without Borders set up a virtual funding account to help pay for her upcoming medical bills and treatment.

Here is the link: http://www.gofundme.com/2hf79k

   Remember, every dollar counts! Anything you can give will make a difference. Also on the GoFundMe page will be updates on Julie and how she is doing and see how much we have raised so far; as I am writing this we have already raised over $2,500 towards her bills, but there is still a ways to go before we meet our goal. Please consider donating any amount you can. Maybe today instead of grabbing that coffee and bagel on the way to work you can donate that money to a good cause instead! Check back on the funding page and our twitter account (@helpMTs) for updates on Julie throughout the next few days.

Thank You from all of us at MWB!

and to Julie...we are all sending you healing thoughts and prayers!

Exciting Announcement

    We are pleased to announce that MWB has been nominated for and won the Aunty Margaret Humanitarian Award! This award is to be presented to us at the World Massage Festival this August on the Queen Mary in California. Vice President Kathy J Burley will be accepting the award on behalf of MWB.

    In other news, we are now welcoming donations for the Artistry E-Auction that takes place in May. You can find the information and application from on our website. This is a great opportunity to explore your creative side while helping us raise more funds! You can fill out the application here.

Accomplishments and What's Next!

   Here at MWB, thanks to our board, our volunteers, and everyone who has helped with the fundraising that has gone on, we have made some great strides to help healers in need. To date, over $18,000 in equipment, gift cards, food baskets, and funds has been raised. $4000 of those funds were distributed to colleagues in cash. It has been a pleasure being able to give supplies, food, hope, and encouragement to these wonderful people who deserve it; and it doesn't stop at Sandy. Everyday there are practitioners struggling with their business and students struggling with their tuition and we can be the ones to help them. So, even though we have come so far, we still have the road ahead of us; there is always more we can do, more YOU can do, and when you think about how many smiles we have brought to people's faces in the short time Massage Without Borders has been in place, and how many smiles there are still to give out, well it just makes you want to work that much harder.
   By volunteering with MWB, you aren't just helping to change the lives of those affected by disaster, you are helping change your own as well. There is no better feeling than the feeling of giving from the heart, whether it is time, money, or support. Give anything, in any form, and your body, mind, and soul will thrive with the positive energy attached to it. Not sure where to start? Contact a board member or another volunteer from your region and see where your skills can be used. Everyone can do something. You have the energy within you to help therapists all over who are sending out an SOS...all you need to do is guide it.

 

Compass Spa in NJ with MWB President William Fee receiving their $3000 check, two massage tables, and supplies.

  So what's next for Massage Without Borders? Well we have an Artistry E-Auction and our big National Event coming up! The Artistry E-Auction will have a variety of wares and decor to bid on and is open to donations from anyone, not just MT's, all you have to do is fill out the form on the MWB website. The Auction will happen online from May 12-18 and all proceeds will go towards the "Adoption" campaigns.

  The National Event will be taking place May 20-25 in schools and businesses across the nation. These businesses will be spreading the word about our cause and raising money. There are prizes for the school or business who brings in the most donations. If you are interested in being a part of this, fill out the Participation form on our website. All proceeds will go to the Adopt a Student campaign for scholarships. 

  Mark those dates on your calendars! If you would like more information about either event, just go to our Facebook page and click on the Events tab. The links are in the contact information at the bottom of the blog. We hope you can participate!

Thank you BonVital for sponsoring our $1000 scholarship!

Welcome

    Welcome to the Massage Without Borders blog! Here we will be posting news on all the happenings within MWB including info on fundraisers and how we are helping our MT colleagues, so make sure you subscribe to our posts (the button is on the bottom of the page) so you can follow us on our journey to help our healers in need!

    Remember, just as it "takes a village to raise a child", it also takes a lot of dedicated people to help us grow and progress, and everyone involved matters. So whether you are sharing our event posters on Facebook, making a donation, starting a fundraiser in your town, or just telling your friends and colleagues about us, YOU are making a difference in helping us help others, for even the smallest step forward still leaves an imprint.
 
    If you have any questions, know a bodyworker in need, or would like to get involved as a volunteer, you can find our contact information on the bottom left corner of this page; feel free to contact us and our board of directors will help you in any way they can! Also, make sure you visit our website at massagewithoutborders.org, and give us a "like" on Facebook!