In 1999, twelve friends, including both Elizabeth Mossanen and Angela Nazarian, came together to form Looking Beyond, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young adults with special needs. Collectively, the board members shared a common interest in promoting awareness and improving conditions for children with disabilities. They began by trying to break the taboos associated with disabilities within the Iranian Jewish community, and were eventually able to expand their reach into society at large. Several of the original twelve members were motivated by their personal experiences, while others were interested in serving this community. Looking Beyond achieves its goals primarily by funding various programs and non-profit organizations that help children with special needs. Looking Beyond goes to great lengths to help children with special needs, their families, and the community at large. Over the past 15 years, it has grown from a small organization with twelve board members to an organization with forty-six dedicated board members, all volunteering to make a difference.