Healing Across Borders: Massage Therapy Foundation Announces 2026 Community Service Grants
October 13, 2026
From supporting displaced women in Greece to helping mothers and children recover from war-related trauma in Ukraine, the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is bringing the healing benefits of massage therapy to vulnerable communities around the world.
Through its 2026 Community Service Awards, the MTF is giving nearly $40,000 to two international projects that will expand access to therapeutic massage for individuals facing significant physical, emotional, and socioeconomic challenges. These grants reflect the Foundation's ongoing commitment to making massage therapy more accessible to underserved populations while demonstrating its potential to improve health and well-being.
Meet the 2026 Community Service Award Recipients
SOMAMU: A Trauma-Informed Massage Therapy Project for 30 Displaced Women in Northern Greece
Irida Women's Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
Grant Award: $20,000
Irida Women's Center provides a safe, supportive environment for socially and economically vulnerable women in Northern Greece, including refugees, migrants and local women experiencing extreme poverty, social exclusion and the risk of gender-based violence.
Through the 12-month SOMAMU project, the center will provide 300 trauma-informed, culturally sensitive therapeutic massage sessions to 30 displaced women, helping alleviate physical symptoms associated with trauma and improve overall well-being.
The project will also offer 12 structured psychosocial support group sessions, equipping participants with relaxation and body regulation techniques to better manage stress, strengthen emotional resilience and complement the benefits of therapeutic massage.
This award is sponsored in part by a gift from Biotone.
Healing Touch: Massage Therapy in Odesa Region
Angels of the Future/Ukrainian Medical Center for Rehabilitation of Mother and Child, Odesa, Ukraine
Grant Award: $19,800
In Ukraine, where the ongoing war has taken a significant physical and emotional toll on families, the Healing Touch project will integrate trauma-informed massage therapy into existing rehabilitation programs for mothers and children affected by war-related trauma.
Over the course of one year, the project aims to provide approximately 1,500 therapeutic massage sessions, serving an estimated seven individuals per day.
Through this initiative, organizers hope to reduce stress-related symptoms, alleviate psychosomatic pain, improve body awareness and support emotional recovery. The project will also help establish a sustainable framework for incorporating massage therapy into ongoing rehabilitation services, extending its potential benefits beyond the initial grant period.
More Than Three Decades of Making a Difference in Vulnerable Communities
Since 1993, the Massage Therapy Foundation's Community Service Award Program has helped bring therapeutic massage to underserved and vulnerable populations around the world. What began with grants of $5,000 has grown into a program offering awards of up to $20,000, expanding its reach and impact.
To date, MTF has awarded more than $692,000 to 145 community service projects worldwide.
Over the years, these grants have supported a wide range of populations, including incarcerated individuals transitioning back into society, children orphaned by the 2011 Japanese tsunami, agricultural workers in Central Mexico and survivors of sex trafficking and addiction.
Many projects also extend massage therapy services to caregivers or incorporate educational and research components, helping promote long-term improvements in community health and wellness.
Beyond providing direct care, the Foundation collects valuable data from grant recipients to better understand the role of massage therapy in addressing health disparities and meeting the needs of vulnerable populations. These insights help inform future initiatives and support the continued integration of massage therapy into healthcare.
From Greece and Ukraine to communities across the globe, MTF's Community Service Awards demonstrate how massage therapy can help bring healing and hope to people who need it most.