TheBeauty Changes Lives (BCL) Foundation is accepting applications for the 2016 BCL-Massage Envy Scholarship Competition.  Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2016.  Six students enrolled in a massage therapy education program at a qualified school will receive a $1,500 tuition scholarship toward their education. In addition, each winner’s school will receive a $500 award to enhance its massage therapy program. The scholarships are generously funded by Massage Envy and administered by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation.

A  judging panel composed of beauty and wellness professionals will evaluate 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?“

Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation, said winners’ applications have reflected the caregiving spirit that characterizes the massage therapy community. “Many scholarship winners have shared how massage therapy helped their loved ones deal with a chronic condition such as cancer or a developmental disability; and they’ve shared how they plan to use the gift of therapeutic touch to help others dealing with challenges,” Lynch said.

“Through massage I want to bring happiness, wellness, smiles and healing both inside and out,” said 2015 scholarship winner Heather Chappell in her application essay. Other winners seek to integrate massage into a comprehensive wellness program. 2015 winner Rebecca Roberts, a yoga instructor for seven years, is blending her passion for yoga with massage therapy to help individuals achieve a greater level of wellness.

Since its inception in 2012, the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation has awarded hundreds of scholarships totaling more than $2M to help individuals pursue careers in beauty and wellness, including 30 BCL Massage Envy scholarship awards. More information about Beauty Changes Lives scholarships is available at www.beautychangeslives.org/scholarships.

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 awards scholarship 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.

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 skincare services in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and skincare 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. Through its national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Massage Envy has raised more than $3 million in four, one-day Healing Hands for Arthritis events. The company was recently ranked #1 Best Franchise with an initial investment of $500,001 and up by Forbes, #79 in Franchise Time's Top 200, #51 in Entrepreneur's 2014 Franchise 500 and #27 in its Fastest Growing Franchise rankings. Massage Envy is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and was named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise. For more information, visit MassageEnvy.com.