The staff of FSM recently teamed up with current students and graduates to win $500 in a local kickball tournament. The money was donated directly to the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, the school’s charity of choice. The Alachua County Emerging Leaders (ACEL) sponsored the event on Saturday, February 2. The FSM team consisted of staff Bob Lee, Joe Cosenza, Sarah Abruscato, Mary Reis, Doug Loeb, Samantha Jones, Larsen McBride and eight FSM students and graduates. “The entire event was a lot of fun!” said Bob Lee. “I haven’t played kickball since I was a kid and revisiting the game as an adult in a friendly competitive environment was a real treat. I really enjoyed the team aspect as well. This particular event included a first for the FSM outreach team in that it was centered on kickball. Lee said, “As a massage therapist we often work alone and playing on a team with a common goal was rewarding. It was a very family-oriented and community-minded event, and really well organized. The entire ACEL staff was friendly, grateful, and supportive.” Lee is the school’s event and outreach coordinator. He said this tournament was one of many different ways the school reaches out to the community by providing chair massage and a spirited presence at locations throughout North Central Florida. The students of the Florida School of Massage also complete hands-on program requirements by working with the elderly at the Alachua Nursing Center and with children and families at the Ronald McDonald House, as well as in the affordable Student Clinic at the school’s location on SW 13th Street. The FSM presence is also felt at the Farmer’s Market, and at various job and health fairs including on the University of Florida and Santa Fe College campuses.
