OFFICERS:
President and Executive Director
Tina Gianfagna, BFA, MALL, is the mother of the founder of Creating Hope, Jeanette Shamblen, who died in 2003. Since Jeanette’s death, Tina has assumed executive duties, along with her husband John. Prior to their move to Indiana in 2001, Tina and John were owners of an Ohio marketing and design firm.
Secretary
Linda Yee, BFA. Artist and cancer survivor, Linda has been an active Creating Hope volunteer and artist each week at the IU Simon Cancer Center since 2003. Her paintings have been exhibited at the Indianapolis Cancer Center, and she is a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Painting.
Treasurer
Susan Kavanaugh, RN, was instrumental in getting the Creating Hope Family Walk started. A friend of Jeanette’s, she is a graduate of Purdue University, and a RN with St. Vincent Heart Center, Indianapolis.
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE:
Samia Tawil Burton, MD, an internal medicine specialist. A strong supporter of Creating Hope, she has seen the value of complementary therapy at work in her patients. Her husband, Dan Burton, is an advocate for cancer causes.
Larry Cripe, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Larry is a highly respected hematologist and founder of the Complete Life program and other Healing through the Arts programs at the University and the Simon Cancer Center. He was responsible for the partnership Creating Hope developed with the Cancer Center.
Kimberly J. Harper, MS, RN, Executive Director of Indiana Center for Nursing. A friend of Jeanette’s, Kim first introduced Creating Hope to the IU Simon Cancer Center.
Christine Van Marter, Christine was also a friend of Jeanette’s. She is the founder of the Red Mask Foundation and has directed the Lilly Oncology on Canvas project for Eli Lilly. She has helped Creating Hope in fundraising, as well as public relations.