Meet Our Internal Staff

Shelly is our longest-running regional leader at the Magic Yarn project. She and her mother have sacrificed much of their time and living space for storing and crafting Magic Yarn wigs and supplies! Shelly excels at creating and repairing wigs that are of the highest quality. An avid crocheter, her experience has personally trained more than half of Magic Yarn’s current staff. Shelly loves to make memories and scrapbook them with her friends. Many of her favorite memories are with her family at Disney! 

In addition to heading up communications for our supply management team, Shelly receives finished wigs & character beanies and distributes hospital box requests for the Eastern US.

Email Shelly at northeast@themagicyarnproject.com.

Jenna serves as one of our Development Specialists, responsible for the care and keeping of our wig-making tutorials. Jenna helps with creating our training materials, keeping our instructional materials up-to-date, and working with the Development Team on their quality control projects.

Email Jenna at jenna.emerick@themagicyarnproject.com.

Katie first found Magic Yarn in May 2018 when her mother-in-law shared one of our viral videos. Since she loves all things crafty, Katie started to crochet beanies and wigs at home to send in. From her first wig (a Moana) completed that June, she was hooked! She quickly found a live workshop and drove 4 hours just to attend. Katie realized she could combine her love of teaching with her love of crochet and crafts to serve with Magic Yarn.

Katie receives finished wigs & character beanies and distributes hospital box requests for the western US.
Katie also serves on our events team as our California events coordinator, and as a workshops consultant to the development & training team.

Email Katie at westcoast@themagicyarnproject.com.

Janette manages our communications with our partner hospitals and charities and oversees record-keeping for the hospital boxes we distribute.

Email Janette at wigdelivery@themagicyarnproject.com.

Kathy learned about the Magic Yarn Project while reading an article in Guideposts magazine in April 2021.  She learned to crochet from her mother at an early age and saw an opportunity to put her skills to good use.  She became an approved beanie maker in June 2021 and an approved wig maker in September 2022. During the summer of 2024 she decided to take on the challenge of training to become a chapter leader.

Kathy receives all mailed donations of incomplete wig, beanie, and packaging parts. She then distributes these items to chapter leaders as needed.
Kathy also serves as our Las Vegas, NV chapter leader.

Email Kathy at Kathy.OBrienGalins@themagicyarnproject.com.

Emily joined the Magic Yarn staff in 2025.

Emily receives mailed donations of incomplete wig, beanie, and packaging parts. She then distributes these items to chapter leaders as needed.

Email Emily at Emily.Pleitez@themagicyarnproject.com.

Laurie has been a part of the Magic Yarn family since 2017. During this time she has served many roles in the organization, including Region Leader and Program Developer. For many years, Laurie skillfully oversaw the annual editing and republishing of our training and quality control manual, the Guide to Magic. Laurie’s current passion is her local chapter. When she’s not busy bringing magic to little cancer fighters, Laurie works in the insurance industry. She lives with her family in central Florida.

Laurie oversees ordering and distribution of in-house supplies for our chapter leaders and other staff. 
She also serves as our Rainbow Springs, FL chapter leader, as a Benevity consultant to the fundraising team, and a Guide to Magic consultant to the development & training team.

Email Laurie at laurie@themagicyarnproject.com.

Kelly and Christy manage the initial training and approval of all of our Approved Magic Makers, the army of volunteer crocheters across North America that keeps us supplied with wigs and beanies.  

Email Kelly at feedback@themagicyarnproject.com.

In August of 2019, Christy was browsing Facebook, looking for volunteer opportunities that matched her skillset and she found the Magic Yarn Project. After attending a few workshops, social distancing kept her home with the supplies to learn to create each of the MYP wigs and the rest is hooking history! In addition to volunteering for the MYP, Christy is a puppy raiser and club co-leader for the San Luis Obispo Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raisers as well as administrative and database support for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Luis Obispo.

Christy manage the initial training and approval of all of our Approved Magic Makers, the army of volunteer crocheters across North America that keeps us supplied with wigs and beanies.  

Email Christy at feedback@themagicyarnproject.com.

Robin coordinates internal communications for our technology, customer service, and social media staff. She also heads up our Magic Yarn “swag” and other marketing and volunteer retention initiatives.

Email Robin at robin.merrill@themagicyarnproject.com.

Jessica has always loved crafting, so when she found Magic Yarn, she knew it was a perfect fit. Jessica grew into Magic Yarn leadership roles quickly, first working as a chapter leader in Georgia, and then soon managing our southeast region. Jessica loves to spend her free time reading, crafting, and gardening. She works alongside her husband restoring classic cars.

Jessica is our content creator and profile director across Facebook and Instagram. She also creates our beautiful branded imagery, manages photo submissions, and designs our print materials. 

Email Jessica at southeast@themagicyarnproject.com.

Cathryn has been following along with the Magic Yarn journey since 2014, when her friend’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer and received the very first Magic Yarn wig. Cathryn trained as a Workshop Leader in 2018 and a Chapter Leader in 2019, before joining the headquarters team to support Magic Yarn’s digital life. When she’s not busy tinkering on the computer or chasing her four boys, she loves gardening, crafting, baking, and hiking.

Cathryn manages the Magic Yarn website, staff emails, and our internal records. 

Email Cathryn at admin@themagicyarnproject.com.

Katrina first heard about The Magic Yarn Project in 2017 and was immediately hooked! She loves that the project combines her love of crochet and princesses to help kids who need a little extra magic in their lives. Katrina lives near Salt Lake City, UT with her husband and three kids. In addition to crocheting and all sorts of crafting, Katrina also enjoys reading, playing her viola, feeding her jigsaw puzzle addiction, and playing board games with family and friends.

Katrina manages our public email enquiries as our customer service specialist, and serves as our community manager for our Facebook groups for volunteers. 

Email Katrina at info@themagicyarnproject.com.

Debbie has been happily making wigs and beanies since 2019 after she responded to a Magic Yarn Project Facebook ad asking for volunteers. Aa a retired educator, being a part of the Magic Yarn project was one way to continue to be of service to children and families in need. Debbie and her husband Jeff have been married for over 40 years and have 2 grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. 

As the Development & Training Team Lead, Debbie heads up communication for the group that manages our staff training materials. As Development Specialist for the team, Debbie ensures that all organizational guides and policies are up-to-date and accurate. She acts as a point of contact for changes and updates related to training materials and policies.

Email Debbie at debbie.grimshaw@themagicyarnproject.com.

Amy has been a part of The Magic Yarn Project since 2018 when a friend sent her a video saying “you need to be part of this!”  She became a Chapter Leader in 2019, serving hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in the Michigan area.  Amy has been married to her husband Kevin for 23 years and they have 3 adult children.  In her spare time she loves to crochet, which she learned to do from her grandmother at a very young age.

Amy oversees the onboarding and initial training of new chapter leaders until they are paired with their mentors.  
She also serves as our Grand Rapids chapter leader.

Email Amy at amyw@themagicyarnproject.com.

Amy has been crocheting and making wigs for The Magic Yarn Project since summer 2018 and has been hooked ever since.  She enjoys making beanies and accessories while traveling and sitting watching television with her husband, and then assembling everything together in her spare time knowing that each wig/beanie will bring a smile to a child. Amy is a substitute teacher, mother of two grown boys, loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys being outdoors as much as possible.

Amy and Kelli are the caretakers of Magic Yarn’s extensive library of proprietary wig-making and crochet patterns. They oversee the testing and release of any updates or new patterns.
Amy also serves as our Denver, CO chapter leader.

Email Amy at amydroste@themagicyarnproject.com.

Kelli Jordan began volunteering for the Magic Yarn Project in 2017. She lives in the Denver, Colorado area with her husband and three sons. She is the Quality Assurance Director of a worktech software company and enjoys improving the quality of the Magic Yarn Project approved patterns, as a part of the program development team.  

Kelli and Amy are the caretakers of Magic Yarn’s extensive library of proprietary wig-making and crochet patterns. They oversee the testing and release of any updates or new patterns.

Email Kelli at kelli.jordan@themagicyarnproject.com.

Lani was The Magic Yarn Project’s first chapter leader, and she has brought her expertise on running workshops and teaching Magic Makers with her the whole way. She has since hosted countless workshops from very large corporate retreats down to intimate parties in living rooms. Lani loves serving others; it’s in her bones and part of her nature. When she’s not up to her eyeballs in yarn, she’s enjoying her supportive family, including her 7 kids and 5 grandkids.

In addition to heading up communication for our events team, Lani manages our Utah events and creates our conventions & conferences. 

Email Lani at rockymountain@themagicyarnproject.com.

Gay has been working with Magic Yarn for years now, with experiences spanning from teaching beautiful wig-making to running our west coast region. Gay supports our mission at many in-person events each year. Her friendly and wise demeanor are important assets for the Magic Yarn team. Gay stays busy enjoying her family and the great outdoors, dividing her time with biking, traveling, and playing with her grandkids.

Gay manages our overseas events. She also helps create our conventions & conferences.

Email Gay at GayRichards@themagicyarnproject.com.

In addition to heading up communication for our fundraising team, Rebecca manages our grant applications, reports, and grantor relationships.  

Email Rebecca at rebecca.bennion@themagicyarnproject.com.

Raised in both Alaska and Mexico, Holly has appreciated a diversity of experience and culture throughout her life. Holly’s desire to help and serve others led her to pursue her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. As an RN, Holly has worked in oncology, ICU, Alzheimer’s, and orthopedics. Holly now spends her time devoted to raising her three children and running The Magic Yarn Project, which she co-founded out of her one-car garage.  

As Executive Director of The Magic Yarn Project, Holly personally coordinates all corporate-level gifts and partnership requests. She is also currently serving as our Events Specialist, coordinating all communication, Magic Yarn leader travel, supplies, and scheduling for large workshops outside Utah and California.

Email Holly at holly@themagicyarnproject.com.

As The Magic Yarn Project’s chief financial leader, Sandy serves our Fundraising team by overseeing distribution and management of funds.
He also serves as the president of Magic Yarn’s governing board.

Brittany has been involved with The Magic Yarn Project since late 2016, when she was looking for a charity to crochet for. Her Baltimore, MD chapter supports a half dozen local hospitals and charities, distributing hundreds of wigs and beanies each year with the help of her small (but very dedicated) team of Magic Makers. She is a homeschooling mom of 5 kids and is always looking for more local Magic Makers to join in any capacity.

Brittany also serves as the 2025 Chapter Leaders Representative. In this role, she functions as the voice of our local chapter leaders on our Advisory Team, advocating for their needs and preferences to guide organization-wide decisions.

Email Brittany at brittanyh@themagicyarnproject.com. 

Jenny first learned about the Magic Yarn Project from a local television spotlight while living in Alaska. After moving to North Carolina in 2018, she was looking for a way to connect her hobby and need to “make things” with giving back to others and reconnected with the MYP through an online workshop. An avid crocheter, she has been making wigs and beanies ever since and in 2024 decided it was time to get a chapter going in her area. “I love that we can create a moment in time for these kids (and their parents) to smile and laugh–that is Magic!”

In addition to serving as our Raleigh, NC chapter leader, Jenny also serves as the 2025 Chapter Leaders Assistant Representative, providing support to our CL Representative to the Advisory Board as they act as the voice of advocacy for all of our amazing chapter leaders.

Email Jenny at jenny.love@themagicyarnproject.com. 

Ashley started making magic with her coworkers, Lani and Jami, back in the early growing years of Magic Yarn.  She helped teach one of the first wig workshops in Utah.  Those in attendance included young women and their mothers.  During this workshop, Ashely says she felt the spirit which drives Magic Yarn-the spirit of love and desire to bring smiles back to the faces of suffering children fighting cancer.  After that first workshop Ashley wanted to keep going.  She became an approved crocheter, followed by being trained in the beautiful Alaska mountains.  She came home and trained more to be an approved wig maker, and later trained to be a Chapter Leader.  She has enjoyed every moment of making magic, and met some beautiful people-those who teach and those who make wigs.  Ashley truly feels blessed to have shared a small moment with them in making children smile together and is honored to be involved.

Ashley has been married 36 years.  She works as a TA and a supervisor over TAs in a charter school, and in the summer works as a cashier at a public city swimming pool.  Ashley has 6 children and 3 grandchildren, who she adores and suffocates with love.  She recently found, only year ago, her little old dream cottage.  She likes to spend her time crocheting , knitting, and piecing quilts.  She enjoys decorating, and going to the lake and throwing out a fishing line is her moment of calm.  She enjoys her evenings sitting on her front porch with her husband where they are surrounded by the beautiful scenery and each others company.  Ashley will forever give all she can for the cause of children.

Email Ashley at ashleyh@themagicyarnproject.com.

Email Linda at Linda.Williams@themagicyarnproject.com.