Dr. Jim Torino co-founded The Friend Foundation in 2016 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he is an accomplished operations executive with a robust background in starting, developing, and leading high-growth organizations. In addition to other initiatives, he has spent over a decade in leading healthcare operations for companies in the wellness and disease management space. With a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Information Systems Management, Dr. Torino is well-versed in behavioral economics, behavioral health, and technology, blending these unique skills with his extensive business knowledge to drive operational success. Today, he is dedicated to giving back to his community and helping people one human at a time.
Bethany Torino co-founded The Friend Foundation in 2016 with Dr. Torino and serves as its Board Chair and Friendship Academy’s Director. Bethany is a gifted creative with a record of successfully launching and managing recognizable regional brands and businesses, such as The Cocoa Tree, a brand she cultivated and led for nearly two decades. Bethany holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and is on her way to earning a Master’s in Social Work. She is known for her effective multi-media communication skills, where she has successfully developed, launched, and managed numerous marketing campaigns across traditional and digital platforms. In her management roles, Bethany has exhibited exceptional leadership skills. She managed daily operations of retail businesses, handled recruiting, hiring, and training of employees, and nurtured productive relationships with vendors. Today she is dedicated to helping others, meeting people where they are and mentoring them to a better life.
AJ Sanchez is the Executive Director of The Friend Foundation, where he leads with a rare blend of strategic grit and compassionate leadership. With a background in entrepreneurship, housing, and systems design, AJ brings a unique perspective to the fight for justice and human dignity.
AJ’s leadership philosophy was deeply shaped at the age of 21, during a pivotal conversation with Ray Barnett, founder of the African Children’s Choir. Amid a global crisis, AJ asked how Barnett could calmly eat breakfast while atrocities raged elsewhere. Barnett’s response left a lasting mark: “What are you going to do about it? Have you done what you can? Being angry doesn’t help anyone. Action does.” That challenge continues to fuel AJ’s drive to act—with urgency, integrity, and whatever tools are available.
At The Friend Foundation, that means leveraging business insight, community organizing, storytelling, and relentless advocacy to improve lives—especially for those who are unhoused, in recovery, or on the margins. AJ believes homelessness is often rooted in isolation, and that the path to lasting stability lies not only in shelter but in reconnection.
Outside of his work, AJ is a full-time father, a writer, and a builder—of homes, systems, and hope.