OUR MISSION
Parentis Foundation seeks to address the needs of children unable to read proficiently by the end of third grade: a major contributor to poverty.
Our mission is to elevate children's literacy through the mentorship of older adults. By pairing the wisdom and experience of seniors with the curiosity of young minds, we inspire a lifelong love for learning. Together, we create a brighter future where generations unite to explore the world of words.
CORE VALUES:
Responsibility, Respect, Knowledge, and Care.
OUR VISION
A collaborative community where youth and older adults achieve mutual benefit through intergenerational engagements focused on education and social enrichment.
OUR PURPOSE
With the caring support of our older adult volunteers, youth build self confidence and can realize a brighter future through the lifelong benefits of academic achievement. Families benefit from personalized support for their children which is essential during their most critical learning years. Older adult volunteers realize enduring benefits from rich social connections and an enhanced sense of purpose.
EMPOWERING READERS OC
Our flagship program EMPOWERING READERS Orange County is a community-based volunteer program that engages highly trained people over the age of 50, as tutors to help students become better readers by the end of third grade. It is a proven “triple win,” helping students to succeed, older adults to thrive, and communities to grow stronger. Parentis Foundation changes lives by positively and significantly impacting both our older adult volunteers and the future generation of young readers.
OUR FOUNDERS
"Tarek A. El Nabli grew up in Egypt living with his grandparents from age four until age fourteen. His dedication and overwhelming desire to help his grandparents began at a young age. Instead of playing outside with his peers, Tarek devoted his time to helping the elderly in his neighborhood, and later in life built his career around the principals that an empowered lifestyle should be available to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or wellness state.
Arda Kardjian grew up in Jerusalem until she moved to the United States for college. While she pursued her BSN degree, her parents remained in Jerusalem. When she and Tarek were married, they moved her parents to the United States to live in their family home where her father lived to age 99. Arda’s 94-year young mother still lives with them and remains the reason WHY Arda is so passionate about educating families on elder care options and ensuring that aging adults have a dignified and empowered life.
Since founding Parentis Health (2014) and Parentis Foundation (2016), their mission has been to provide compassionate care to seniors and provide meaningful opportunities for active older adults to stay engaged in the community. In addition to building a successful senior focused Health Care Company, Tarek and Arda realized a need in the community that was missing – opportunities for the active aging community to engage with young children in a meaningful way that would transcends generations.
In 2017, Parentis Foundation was appointed as Orange County’s program partner host agency for the nationally acclaimed Experience Corps, an AARP Foundation intergenerational volunteer-based literacy tutoring program.
In holding true to Tarek and Arda’s vision, Parentis Foundation has provided both older adults and children with opportunities to enrich their lives, build self-confidence, and share a sense of purpose through literacy.
As of September 2024 Parentis Foundation is embarking on a new chapter in our literacy program as we evolve into Empowering Readers OC. This new identity reflects our growth and commitment to expanding services, allowing us to reach even more 1st to 5th-grade students who need critical literacy intervention and intergenerational mentoring. As we enter this exciting phase, we also conclude our partnership with AARP Foundation Experience Corps, with deep gratitude for the strong foundation we built together.