SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Through the gift of professional education, the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation and Massage Envy are helping six students pursue their dream of a career in massage therapy. Recipients of the Spring 2015 Beauty Changes Lives Massage Envy scholarship and their respective schools are as follows: Christy Angus, Megan Cook and Donna Sardone, all students at Finger Lakes School of Massage, Ithaca, New York; Vanessa Howson, Finger Lakes School of Massage, Mount Kisco, New York; and Rachel Huntzicker and Elle Lemler, both students at Aveda Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Each recipient receives a $1,500 tuition scholarship. Additionally, each winner’s massage therapy school is awarded a $500 gift to enhance its program and educational offerings.
The most recent round of massage therapy scholarships awarded continues an ongoing collaboration between the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation and Massage Envy. Twelve aspiring massage therapists were awarded scholarships by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation in 2014 and six scholarships were awarded in 2013. A judging panel composed of beauty and wellness professionals evaluated each applicant’s 300-word essay or three-minute video addressing the question, “Why are you pursuing a career in massage therapy and what is your vision for changing lives through therapeutic touch?”
C.G. Funk, vice president of industry relations at Massage Envy, said the company’s support of massage therapy scholarships underscores data showing massage therapy is a growing sector of the economy. “Now is an exciting time to enter into the career of massage therapy, which is expanding like never before. Consumer use of massage has tripled in the last decade, which in turn has caused a tremendous increase in the demand for massage therapists. The massage therapy profession has consistently been one of the fastest growing in the country in recent years,” Funk said. The U.S. Department of Labor expects a 23 percent increase in employment of massage therapists between 2012 and 2022.
Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation, said the $500 award to each winner’s massage therapy school encourages schools to continually invest in their educational offerings. “The gift may be used to invest in classroom resources or even support the continued education of massage therapy instructors. Education is at the heart of the Beauty Changes Lives mission,” Lynch said.
Since its inception in 2012, the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation has awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships to help individuals pursue careers in beauty and wellness, including 24 Massage Envy scholarship awards.
About the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation
The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) created by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools to build awareness of the extraordinary career opportunities available in the beauty and wellness industry and award scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in hair, skin, nails, barbering and massage therapy. The Foundation also organizes and participates in numerous philanthropic fundraisers that shine the spotlight on the charitable initiatives of the beauty and wellness community. Information about Beauty Changes Lives scholarships is available at beautychangeslives.org/scholarships.
About Massage Envy Spa
Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor, and through its franchised locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skin care services in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and skin care services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,000 franchise locations in 49 states and 1.5 million members. In addition, the average unit volume for a franchise location is $1.35 million. For more information, visit massageenvy.com.