AMTA Pledges $100,000 in Matching Donations for MTs Affected by Hurricane Sandy

The American Massage Therapy Association announced today that the organization is pledging a matching donation of up to $100,000 to help massage therapists who were affected by the storm in NY, NJ, and CT. In the press release issued earlier today, in addition to the matching donation, member therapists will also be given a payment plan for their membership dues, and provided with free continuing education.

In the next few days, there will be a page on AMTA’s website where you can make a donation electronically. In the meantime, donations should be sent to AMTA, 500 Davis Street, Evanston,IL 60201 and mark on the check that it is for the Hurricane Sandy Account.

AMTA chapters throughout the U.S. are encouraged to provide assistance to massage therapists through AMTA’s Hurricane Sandy account.

AMTA members and all massage therapists also can contribute to this account. (Note that contributions to AMTA chapters or to the Hurricane Sandy account are not tax-deductible, as AMTA is not a charitable organization)

Contribute directly to those agencies and groups established to accept charitable contributions and ensure that they reach those most in need. http://www.serve.gov/sandy/

For several days after the hurricane, AMTA reached out to learn more about the impact of the storm on massage therapists. Lack of electricity and communications in most of the area dramatically slowed the ability to learn who was affected. Once we established contact with chapter presidents in the Tri-State area, the AMTA Board was better able to determine what it could do as a professional association to benefit massage therapists and the profession.

There have been some grassroots efforts going on in the interim, and no one is minimizing those efforts. Friends have helped friends–and perfect strangers–and neighbors have helped neighbors. I’d like to say, though, that double the money is double the money–so I encourage you to give where it’s going to be doubled and do twice the good. AMTA has the safeguards in place of having a bank account strictly dedicated to this cause set up, and complete accountability of the funds coming in and going out.

Blessings to all those who have been affected, and all those who are doing what they can to help. Now let’s get this $100,000 raised so we can turn it into $200,000.

3 Replies to “AMTA Pledges $100,000 in Matching Donations for MTs Affected by Hurricane Sandy”

  1. Hello Laura,
    On behalf of the AMTA National Board of Directors,I would like to thank-you for your interest and support of the Association’s approach to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We appreciate your endorsement of our plan and your encouragment for others to contribute to the fund we have established. Cynthia

  2. Wow, I hadn’t even heard about this! Interesting that it hasn’t come up for me in my news feeds yet. To Cynthia, above: that is a very kind and admirable gesture, and it should absolutely be endorsed and applauded. But I feel like not many people have even heard about this… how is it being marketed to people so they know that their contributions will be matched? Where have you been advertising this charitable drive? Just curious because I hadn’t heard anything about it until I stumbled onto this page. Are you near the $100k threshold? If not, I can try to help advertise on your behalf as well, I am connected to many mt’s who would be willing to contribute.

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