2024 Breast-Cancer Community Service Grants Announced

Posted:Friday, December 20, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Massage Therapy Foundation Awards
2024 Jacquelyn Project Breast-Cancer Community Service Grants

(Evanston, Ill., December 28, 2024) Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) announces the award of four breast cancer-related Community Service Grants to organizations providing massage therapy to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and/or healthcare professionals. Funds for this important work are available through the generosity of The Jacquelyn Project (TJP) special fundraising initiative. TJP brings massage to those impacted by cancer in honor of Jacquelyn (Dahneke) Penrose’s life and legacy via funds raised by her father, Marshall Dahneke, Provo, Utah.

Increasing Access to Therapeutic Massage (second year grantee)
Bridgeport Hospital, Fairfield, Conn., $5,000

For over 20 years, Bridgeport Hospital’s Integrative Medicine & Support Services program has provided therapeutic massage to patients in need, regardless of their ability to pay. The program serves uninsured and underinsured patients from Greater Bridgeport, Conn., a low-income community that is over 70 percent people of color. The 2023 MTF Community Service Grant provided Licensed Massage Therapists certified in oncologic massage to patients in need. 2024 MTF Grant funds will enable the program to expand access and offer services to caretakers in addition to patients.

Nurturing Wellness: Empowering Breast Cancer Survivors with MT in Kenya
Healthcare Extension Promotion & Training Organization, Bloomington, Minn., $5,000

This grant aims to implement a comprehensive massage therapy and treatment program tailored specifically for breast cancer survivors in Kenya, targeting women between the ages of 15 – 59 across three counties. Participants come from marginalized communities and typically earn less than a $1 per day. Due to numerous challenges they are often unable to seek breast cancer treatment. The staffing plan for this program ensures access to qualified professionals in massage therapy, oncology, psychosocial support, and administration, who are available on-call to support the project’s objectives. Through this initiative, they aspire to alleviate physical discomfort, enhance emotional well-being, and improve the overall quality of life for these resilient women.

New Treatment for Women Suffering from Breast Cancer
Jefimija Counseling Center, Užice, Serbia, $5,000

Jefimija’s New Treatment for Women Suffering from Breast Cancer project aims to provide free massages to women suffering from breast cancer in the Užice region of Serbia. Massage therapy is currently not being used in Serbia in any institution as an adjunct treatment for cancer patients. The primary objective of this innovative program is to alleviate physical symptoms such as pain, soreness, fatigue, muscle tightness, and spasms, while also addressing psychological distress by reducing stress and anxiety.

Integrative Therapy & Employee Wellness Program
MultiCare Foundations, Tacoma, Wash., $5,000

MultiCare Cancer Institute will use MTF grant funding to deliver massage therapy services to breast cancer patients/survivors, their identified family, and staff within four outpatient clinics during a one-year duration, as part of the Integrative Therapies program. Many patients do not have access to non-pharmacologic pain relief due to obstacles such as transportation, income level, and insurance constraints. This program enables MultiCare to provide services to individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their ability to pay. Anticipated outcomes for this project, based on clinical research and prior completed patient evaluation forms, include reduced neuropathy, anxiety, and depression, pain relief and decreased tension, nausea, and increased quality of life and patient satisfaction.

About the Massage Therapy Foundation

The Massage Therapy Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity supporting scientific research, education, and community service for the massage therapy profession. The Foundation founded and publishes an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal and provides many educational resources for massage therapists, educators, and students. MTF is an independent organization that promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, resources, training, and services.

For more information about this grant please contact Teri Mayo, Executive Director, at tmayo@massagetherapyfoundation.org. To apply for future grants go to: https://massagetherapyfoundation.org/grants-and-contests/community-service-grants.