Ayzar Outreach Inc
OUR STORY
AyZar Outreach traces back to one person's dream to make a real impact — the kind that doesn't just help one life, but builds something that outlives her. Founder Shirin Zarkesh dedicated a real estate inheritance to power that vision, transforming it into what fuels the mission today: an ecosystem of equity built with partners, advisors, and donors who believe potential shouldn't be constrained by circumstance. As Shirin puts it, she may not have the "forever," but she has something more valuable — the backing of like-minded people who will keep cultivating this ecosystem long after she's gone. That's the story behind every Pathseeker who walks through POD: not a program built to hit a metric, but an ecosystem built to outlast its founder.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to level the playing field for underleveraged individuals constrained by circumstance, leveraging our ecosystem of equity — a network of partners, advisors, and donors — to empower them in their journey toward dignified lives through access to opportunities, tools, training, and guidance.
Background Statement
AyZar Outreach was founded on the belief that talent and opportunity both exist in abundance — what's been missing is alignment between them. That belief took shape as an ecosystem model: Sponsors, Pathmakers, and Advisors working together rather than a single program acting alone. From that ecosystem grew POD (Professional Opportunity Development), our main program, structured around three phases — Career Path Development, the Career Readiness Program, and Partner Matching and Job Placement — designed as a flexible, non-linear journey since real growth rarely happens in a straight line.
Impact Statement
Since 2021, AyZar Outreach has grown from 3 active Pathseekers to 22 by the end of 2025 — a 633% increase — with 68 individuals enrolled in the program to date and a 19% graduation rate. But the clearest measure of impact is return: every dollar AYO has invested in direct assistance and program costs has generated real income gains for graduates, producing a 527% return on investment to date (498% when adjusted for regional unemployment). In practical terms, that's $1,087,087 in cumulative income gains for graduated Pathseekers against $587,779 in total program costs — proof that the ecosystem model doesn't just place people in jobs, it builds sustainable earning power that outlasts the program itself.
Needs Statement
Join us in creating access, opportunity, and meaningful career pathways for individuals navigating their next chapter. The ecosystem grows through people stepping into specific roles: sponsor a Pathseeker's journey, partner in a pathway by hosting an internship, or mentor a potential by guiding a Pathseeker through career navigation. We also need workshop leaders to share in-demand expertise, and support expanding partner outreach to grow the participant pipeline. Every role is a direct investment in someone's path toward dignified, sustainable work.
Geographic Areas Served
Primarily Santa Ana and greater Orange County, CA, with Pathseekers also drawn from the Inland Empire and a remote-accessible program structure reaching beyond Southern California.
Top Three Populations Served
- All Populations
- Immigrants and Refugees
- Middle Eastern/North Africans
CONTACT
Ayzar Outreach Inc
1516 Brookhollow Dr Ste B
Santa Ana, CA 92705-5426
Norah Sarsour
Phone: 7149307490