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BIOTONE Announces School Community Outreach Award Program Winners

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 January 2008, 09:00 CST

BIOTONE today announced the winners of the BIOTONE Community Outreach Award Program. The Blue Ridge School of Massage & Yoga, Blacksburg, Va., and The Academy of Somatics & Massage, Oxnard, Calif., each will receive a $2500 grant from BIOTONE for its volunteer massage therapy program conducted in 2007 that helped individuals in the community and at the same time provided massage students with an educational experience.

"We are very pleased to announce the winners of our first annual Community Outreach Award Program," said Jean Shea, BIOTONE founder and CEO. "We established this award program to raise visibility for the important role of massage in community service work and to acknowledge the philanthropy of our massage industry community. All of the participating schools are to be congratulated for their commitment to their communities and the advancement of the healing powers of massage."

The Blue Ridge School of Massage & Yoga provided outreach support and free clinic sessions for one month to those affected by the Virginia Tech shootings, including victims, staff, students, families, friends, counselors and police officers. The Academy of Somatics & Massage attended the American Cancer Walk in Oxnard, providing chair and table massage to the participants and cancer survivors.

Among the criteria for BIOTONE Community Outreach Award consideration were impact of the program on the community, benefit to recipients and ability to meet stated goals. All programs had to be conducted during 2007 and concluded by the end of the year.

"We are very grateful to BIOTONE for establishing this award program to shed light on the value of massage to aid the community in times of enormous stress," said Nancy Mignone, administrative coordinator for the Blue Ridge School of Massage & Yoga. "We very much appreciate the grant and will use it to further our community outreach efforts in 2008 and years to come."

Mignone added, "I also would like to offer a heartfelt thanks to the diligent therapists who coordinated this outreach and the over 70 massage therapists who came from far and wide to help those in need."

"We extend our heartfelt thanks to BIOTONE for this award," said DeEtta Sanchez, owner and instructor of The Academy of Somatics & Massage. "In addition to supporting volunteer efforts among massage professionals, BIOTONE has sent an important message to the massage industry and to the public at large about the role of massage as a complementary therapy for serious illnesses, such as cancer. We will continue to advance this concept through our professional and volunteer efforts."

The Community Service Award is the newest initiative under BIOTONE's Edu-Partner Program, in which the company helps schools raise their visibility among prospective students, and schools can participate with the company in joint marketing activities. To date, over 900 schools representing every state participate in the BIOTONE program.

About BIOTONE

BIOTONE, headquartered in San Diego, CA, is the leading manufacturer of superior quality professional massage oils, cremes, lotions and gels as well as spa body treatment products. Founded in 1980, BIOTONE is a family-run, woman-owned business. The company sells its products in the US and Internationally. More information can be found at www.biotone.com, www.biotonespa.com or by calling 800.445.6457.

Source: Business Wire

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