Board of Directors
Hilary Swank
American actress and producer, Hilary Swank is a two-time Oscar winner (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby) well known for making strong, bold choices throughout her longstanding career. She’s faced many obstacles throughout her life as she pursued her dream of being an actor and today uses her story of overcoming adversity to encourage women of all stages and seasons to stay true to their own mission. In addition to her success in her film career, she is a long time animal advocate and has spent years rescuing animals out of high kill shelters and finding forever homes for them. In 2014, she was honored by The Petco Foundation for her rescue and animal advocacy work and again honored for her work in animal activism in 2015 by the ASPCA
Amanda Hearst
Amanda is the co-founder of Well Beings. She also co-founded luxury sustainable fashion retailer MAISON-DE-MODE.COM with fellow Well Beings board member, Hassan Pierre, and sits on the Advisory Board of NEST, a non-profit committed to the advancement of global artisans. She is also Special Projects Editor at "Town & Country" magazine, where she writes about sustainable fashion and travel. Named one of the "20 Under 40" philanthropists by the New York Observer, Hearst received The HSUS Compassion in Action award in 2015 for her work on behalf of animals. She currently resides in Manhattan with her pup, Finnegan
Breanna Schultz
Breanna has over six years of entertainment marketing experience, working with companies such as the Seattle Seahawks, Warner Bros. and Edelman. However, it was her continued love for animals that drove her to pursue a Master's degree in animal behavior and conservation. She obtained this degree while focusing on behavior rehabilitation research and work with canines who had been through severe trauma including puppy mills and hoarding. Breanna is also active philanthropically, serving on the National Council and on Humane Generation as an executive committee member for the HSUS. She is also on the board for one of the largest NYC no kill animal shelters, Animal Haven. Her goal with Well Beings is to apply her previous marketing and philanthropic experiences with her education to make a significant and meaningful difference within animal welfare and environmental protection. Her husband, Jordan Schultz, daughter Wren, and son Hayes all share a love for animals, having four pets themselves: cats Felix and Ruca, along with dogs Lexi and Zeppelin
Francis Battista
Francis is one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Society. Along with his wife, Silva, Francis created Best Friends’ Los Angeles programs, launching many model programs, such as the Catnippers spay/neuter program for community cats; celebrity events, such as the Lint Roller Party; super adoptions; and public awareness campaigns, such as Desex and the City, a spay/neuter campaign. Francis currently works as an advisor to Best Friends Community Programs and Services.
Joe Patane
Joe Patane is a licensed clinical social worker, youth-development advocate, mentor, author, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and founder of the Dream Camp Foundation (www.dreamcamps.org). A former computer-business owner with an MBA from Fordham University, Joe has been an active member of the Community Counseling Center of San Luis Obispo and the SLO International Film Festival's Board of Directors. He founded the Patane Family Scholarships to honor individuals who invest in self-care to better serve the lives and futures of others. Joe travels the globe in pursuit of grassroots projects that focus on the growth and care of youth and animals. Joe is blessed to share his life with Sasha, a Lovely Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. He adopted her when she was two.
Jeff Bernstein
Jeff is a Partner at a prominent Los Angeles law firm. He received his undergraduate with honors from Cornell University and he graduated cum laud from Harvard Law School. Jeff also serves on the Board of Lifeworks Mentoring, a foundation geared towards development and mentoring LGBT teens in a safe environment to help them realize goals and dreams.
Pankaj Shah
Pankaj is the founder and CEO of Finches, a global collective of thought leaders in early stage technology. Pankaj is also an investor in dozens of companies, an advisor to eight venture capital firms and collaborates regularly with the NBA. He is an early backer of Wish, Addepar, BuildZoom, OpenGov and many other companies. His advisory roles include Boom.tv, Cocoon, FLYR, Meter Feeder, Sweet a little, QuanticMind, Quilt, ONEHOPE and zBiotics. His current philanthropy focus is with the Angiogenesis Foundation and Hilaroo. Pankaj is also an advocate for Every Mother Counts, Virgin Unite and Witness. Previously, he proudly served on the Board of Directors for BRAC USA and Girls, Inc and supported Music Rising.