In keeping with hearts, flowers and all things loving and caring, a local nonprofit is flipping the traditional Valentine’s Day script to celebrate — and support — a nonprofit that champions Tucson’s holistic healing and health.
Tucsonans can join the fun at the Integrative Touch Butterfly Gala at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at El Conquistador Tucson, 10000 N. Oracle Rd.
“This is our first-ever Valentine’s gala and we are leaning into making it the best Valentine’s party in town," said Shay Beider, founder and CEO of Integrative Touch. "We are focusing on how to make it a great date night for couples, ’Galentines’ and those flying solo. This will be fun for everyone."
Integrative Touch — which originated as Integrative Touch for Kids more than 20 years ago — is dedicated to alleviating pain and isolation through whole community care and connection for children, families and individuals affected by disability, medical issues or trauma. Programs and services have expanded in the past few years to include the Integrative Touch Healing Center at 7493 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 103.
The center is open to the public and offers more than 30 different holistic treatments and therapies — including massage, bodywork, acupuncture, crania-sacral therapy, energy treatments and more — as well as online and in-person classes. It also offers a growing slate of counseling and therapy services as well as mental health support.
“This past year has we have experienced more growth than we have had in 21 years," Beider said. "We have developed a number of partnerships locally and with companies outside of Tucson that are helping us broaden our reach and the Healing Center is emerging into a center of excellence."
Locally, new Integrative Touch partnerships include the University of Arizona School Garden workshop, which facilitates gardens and related curriculums in 60 local schools.
“Integrative Touch is helping tailor the curriculum to kids of all abilities and to those who have experienced trauma, since that is our expertise. This is having incredible impact,” Beider said.
Other new partnerships include programs for pediatric cancer patients and children with Crohn’s disease and their families through Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as a collaboration with Soteria Precision Medicine Foundation.
“They are high-tech and we are the ‘high-touch’ side of cancer," Beider said. "We can bring people into the Healing Center and we also have an online TeleWellness program curated to each individual that can serve people who have cancer anywhere in the country."
The program uses data-informed research in movement and exercise, happiness research and the fields of positive psychology, mediation, mindfulness, grieving techniques and global well-being to customize content and optimize health, nutrition and healing for participants.
Additionally, the Healing Center has been credentialed by the Arizona Department of Health Services as an outpatient treatment center. It is expanding services to Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (ACCHS) patients and those on Medicare, Blue Cross and other forms of insurance.
“We provide integrative medicine services to the public and to people who would otherwise not be able to afford them. We have designed our financial model to offer scholarships so no one is turned away for financial reasons. If you come and pay full price for a therapy, your payment ‘heals it forward’ to our scholarship fund to support those who cannot pay,” Beider said.
This inclusive approach to integrating holistic therapies with traditional medicine has inspired many volunteers, including Jada Cash, who first became involved with the nonprofit about 15 years ago.
“The key element of the organization is the idea that traditional medical care can only go so far ... and there is a gap to fill in terms of care and support and community," Cash said. "Integrative Touch is amazing for everyone in the community who has gone through illness, trauma or mental health issues: It runs the gamut."
She said that Beider often uses the analogy of hospice, which melds traditional and non-traditional medical support to optimize wellness.
Cash, who assists with digital marketing and coordination for the gala, is proud to be part of the Integrative Touch movement.
“We have this ‘pay it forward’ model and Tucson is a proving ground," Cash said. "It is a city that is very into health and wellness. We have people who can afford integrative services and amazing practitioners who provide them at Canyon Ranch and other places and they all want to support care for others."
Ultimately, Cash is also gratified that her volunteer efforts result in funds that are funneled directly back into the community.
“There are so many nonprofits in Tucson. I have read that Tucson has one of the highest ratios of nonprofits per capita, and people have a choice about what they want to support. I think it is amazing that this organization is making a concerted effort for as much money as possible to go right back to its cause,” she said.
