Our History
Since launching Parentis Health in 2014, founders Tarek El Nabli and Arda Kardjian saw a gap in opportunities for older adults to connect meaningfully with young children across generations.
Parentis Foundation honors that vision by enriching the lives of both older adults and children through literacy, confidence-building, and shared purpose.
Starting September 2024, we began an exciting new chapter as Empowering Readers Orange County (EROC)—a name that reflects our growth and ongoing commitment to serving more 1st–5th grade students through critical literacy support and intergenerational mentoring.
About 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.