BIOTONE® becomes a Sustaining Benefactor

The Massage Therapy Foundation is pleased to announce a major gift from BIOTONE® of San Diego, CA. BIOTONE®, a leading supplier of body treatment and spa products, joins the Foundation's Corporate Giving Program as a Sustaining Benefactor. BIOTONE® generously presented a pledge for $10,000 to Foundation President, John Balletto, during the 2004 AMTA National Convention. BIOTONE® joins several other corporations who have responded to the Massage Therapy Foundation's call for vendor support. "The Massage Therapy Foundation is at an exciting point in its development," said John Balletto, Foundation President. "We have worked with both the research and massage communities to create a definitive agenda to expand and direct research that will demonstrate the benefits, safety and efficacy of therapeutic massage and bodywork. This commitment by BIOTONE® is both a significant contribution to our efforts and signal to other vendors about the importance of supporting the work of our Foundation."

Thank you BIOTONE® for your generous support.

Massage Therapy Foundation Elects Vice Presidents

The Board of Trustees of the Massage Therapy Foundation elected Tim Herbert of Eugene, OR and Glenn Hymel, Ed.D., LMT of New Orleans, LA Vice Presidents of the Massage Therapy Foundation.  Herbert and Hymel will serve one year terms beginning March 1, 2006. 

Tim Herbert has served as a Trustee with the Massage Therapy Foundation for the past four years. He is  actively involved with the Foundation’s Volunteer Development committee and this year will Chair the Community Service Grant Review Committee. Herbert is the National Sales Manager for Custom Craftworks, Inc., a manufacturer of innovative, premium quality massage therapy equipment. He studied Economics and English at the University of Colorado, graduated from Ashland Massage Institute, and  is trained in Hakomi Psychotherapy.

Dr. Glenn Hymel has served as a Trustee of the Foundation for the past three years, chaired the Foundation’s Research Grants Proposal Review Committee, and will continue to chair the Foundation’s Database Committee. Dr. Hymel is a Professor and past Chairman of the Department of Psychology at Loyola University in New Orleans. He is also a licensed massage therapist with a practice and research focus on fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, geriatric, and chronic pain populations.  He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Loyola University New Orleans and a doctorate of education from the University of New Orleans.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2004 Distinguished Service Award

This award is being given to the following leaders who together founded the Massage Therapy Foundation. Thank you for your service and leadership in the advancement of the massage therapy profession. The awardees are:

Iris Burman
Grace Chan, D.O.M.P.
Elliot Greene
Janet Kahn, PhD
Robert King
George Kousaleous
Sue Kozisek
Martha Brown Menard, PhD
Raymond Moriyasu

Foundation Hosts Quilt Fundraiser at Convention

The Massage Therapy Foundation would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Ruth Werner (UT) for donating a lovely homemade quilt to the Foundation. Her handcrafted quilt was displayed at the Foundation's booth at the AMTA National Convention this past September. The lucky recipient of the quilt was Dianne Wolf (WV). Over $300 in donations were received, and all proceeds went directly to the Massage Therapy Foundation. Congratulations to Dianne, and thanks again to Ruth Werner and all of those who supported the work of the Foundation by purchasing raffle tickets.

Ruth Werner Congratulates Dianne Wolf who won the homemade
quilt that Werner crafted and donated to the Foundation (quilt is
pictured in background).

2005 Student Case Report Contest Winners

Congratulations to the following student award winners!
Click here for a press release

Two "Gold" Award Grand Prize Winners have been selected:

Michael Hamm, Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle, WA
                          Case Report Title: "Impact of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Linked
                          Pathologies: Scoliosis, Costovertebral Disfunction and Thoracic Outlet 
                          Syndrome."

Susie Young, Southwest Academy of Healing Arts in Cedar City, UT
                      Case Report Title: "The Quantifiable Efficacy of Massage Therapy and
                      Fibromyalgia."

Honorable Mention:

Amy Bilyk, Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle, WA
                  Case Report Title: "Treating the Upper Extremities with Therapeutic Massage."

From left to right: Michael Hamm (Student), Amy Bilyk (Student),
Matthew Sorlie (Faculty), Pat O'Rourke (Faculty), and Brian
Utting, (Owner)
 

Thanks to all schools who participated in 2005:

Brian Utting School of Massage, Seattle, WA
College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD
Florida School of Massage, Gainesville, FL
New York Institute of Massage, Williamsville, NY
Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC
Southwest Academy of Healing Arts, Cedar City, UT