The Massage Therapy Foundation is pleased to announce that our Distinguished Service Award will now
be called the John Balletto Distinguished Service Award. John Balletto, LMT, BSc, CKTP is a licensed massage therapist, author, educator, researcher, and certified KinesioTaping® Practitioner in a private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a past President of the Massage Therapy Foundation, a past National Vice-President of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, the Fascia Research Society, the KinesioTaping® Association International, and an affiliate member of the American College of Sports Medicine. In addition to his private practice, he serves as the massage therapist for several collegiate and professional athletic teams and is the current Chair of the State of RI Board of Licensed Massage Therapists. A graduate of Bates College, Lewiston, ME, John is an avid sculler, gardener, beekeeper, and nature photographer. He currently resides in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Balletto has been a long-time friend of the Foundation. He has been a proud supporter and a monthly donor since 2001. He served as a Trustee for nearly 20 years and played an important role in numerous Foundation endeavors. He helped to establish the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB), an open-access scientific journal which is now in its eighth year of publication. Additionally, Balletto served as President of the Foundation for six years and was the first president to assist in the organization of the Foundation’s triennial research conference.
“I am so honored, and humbled, that the Foundation chose to honor my years of volunteer service to the Foundation by establishing the John Balletto Distinguished Service Award. To recognize volunteers—and bestowing heartfelt respect and thanks for sharing their expertise, skills and time—is truly an incredible gift. For me, your thanks will continue on for many, many years to come,” states Balletto, “To my fellow volunteers—past, present and future, to all the donors that support us, and to our staff, I cannot thank you enough.”
Massage Therapy Foundation President, Jerrilyn Cambron, LMT, DC, MPH, PhD, said, “I am truly amazed at the dedication that John had and still has for the Foundation. Establishing the award in his name is a small way of thanking him for all that he has done.”
The John Balletto Distinguished Service award is given to individuals whose service to the massage therapy profession, by nature of their generous volunteer efforts on behalf of the Foundation, goes far beyond the norm. It is primarily through the dedicated work of our volunteers that the Foundation realizes its success.
About the Massage Therapy Foundation
The Massage Therapy Foundation is a 501(c) 3 public charity, with a mission to advance the knowledge and practice of massage by supporting scientific research, education, and community service. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.massagetherapyfoundation.org.
