OUR CEO

Luv Friend is a Registered Nurse and Chief Empowerment Officer of Friend Village, where she has dedicated her life to serving and caring for others. From a young age, Luv has been passionate about helping those in need, starting with using her Fisher Price doctors’ kit on her dolls and family members. Her commitment to helping others only grew stronger as she volunteered as a candy striper at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn and worked with inmates to improve their reading skills while attending Niagara University. After earning her biology degree from Niagara University, a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University, and a BSN in Nursing from Pace University, Luv began her nursing career working with children with cerebral palsy and seizures in NYC public schools. She has since gained experience in a variety of nursing settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, and substance abuse clinics, specializing in med-surg and oncology. In 2017, Luv opened Friend Village, a group home for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the goal of providing a warm and safe place for them to call home. The group home has since transitioned to offering sponsor homes and expanded to include community engagement programs, center-based day programs, and supportive in-home services. Luv believes in treating others with care, patience, and compassion, and strives to make a positive impact in the lives of those she serves. Her greatest reward is seeing smiles on the faces of her clients and hearing from families and clinicians about the progress they have made. Luv, a native of Brooklyn, NY, is a proud mother to her son Gianni Anthony, who is her inspiration and motivation.