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!