Christine Fabiani Shively

With her college degree in science, Christine Shively might not seem likely to have found her creative satisfaction in running a charity based on needlework. Yet the energetic founder of Knots-of-Love also has a history of volunteerism. Since her sons, Geoffrey and Ian, were pre-teens, she has been an active member of the Adoption Guild of Southern Orange County, raising $600,000 for Holy Family Services Adoption and Foster Care Agency. In 2007, after completing her term as president, Christine started Knots-of-Love.

Christine first learned to crochet as a girl of six, under the tutelage of her grandmother Jeanette. After many decades had passed, Christine felt the urge to make scarves and afghans to give to her friends and family members, and she bought some yarn and a crochet hook. It was her son Geoffrey who encouraged Christine to make caps, and soon after she figured out how to make them, Geoff and Ian and all their friends had homemade caps. Christine soon realized she needed an outlet to keep up with her output. Linda Torr, a friend who is a cancer survivor, told Christine that she wished she had had a cozy cap to don after a day’s wearing of her wig, and the inspiration for heartwarming, head-warming Chemo Caps was planted.

Christine felt so good making caps for cancer patients, she thought other crocheters and knitters might like to make them in their spare time, too. After some research, she discovered there was a tremendous need for Chemo Caps, and thus Knots of Love was born on June 24th, 2007. Christine says, “was born out of a desire to brighten the lives of people in need, in a loving and caring way."

Now Christine is responsible for receiving and shipping over 73,000 caps to cancer centers, oncologist’s offices, and infusion centers across America, Canada, Mexico and Overseas.

As validation of her efforts, Christine Fabiani Shively received the 2009 Humanitarian Award from the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation. She has been featured in newspapers and interviewed by many.

She was also awarded Humanitarian of the Year by the Woman’s Cancer Research Foundation in 2009. The work she does truly impacts the lives of those dealing with life-threatening illnesses across the nation.

In July of 2009, President Bill Clinton chose Knots of Love as his charity of choice and spoke about Christine Shively and Knots of Love at the 2009 All Star Game in St. Louis Missouri.

She was recently named one of 20 Women to Watch in 2010 by OC Metro Magazine.

Christine has knitted and crocheted over 3,000 caps for Knots of Love.