Okizu Foundation

Children who are diagnosed with cancer miss a normal childhood. Their illness, treatment, and complications can keep them from enjoying activities that often are taken for granted. And yet these children, like all children, need the opportunity to grow, experiment, and discover independence. Okizu began in 1982 with the belief that a residential camp can be an ideal setting for children struggling with cancer to explore and enjoy a normal life experience while interacting with others who truly understand their illness.

We quickly learned that all family members, including the ill child, parents, and siblings, are all impacted in unique and powerful ways by childhood cancer. The opportunity for interactions with genuine peers and the strong sense of community fostered by a residential camp environment provide valuable emotional and practical support for continuing the cancer journey, while also allowing everyone to take a break from their routine and have a great time.

Okizu is more than a summer camp. We work with all of our partners, from volunteers to national medical institutions, to reach and support those we serve, year-round, and whenever we are needed. Our current calendar includes two weeks of Oncology Camp, three weeks of SIBS Camp, six Family Camp weekends (including one for bereaved families and one for families facing a brain tumor diagnosis), several one-day Family Picnics and special events, a Teens-N-Twenties weekend for older teens and young adults navigating cancer, and two Bereaved Teen weekends.

We understand that the financial burden associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and devastating for a family. For that reason, all of Okizu’s programs are offered free of charge to the families we serve. This provides all families, including those in the low to moderate-income community, with the same opportunity to attend any of our programs that they are eligible for. We are dedicated to serving every child and family in Northern California affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, economic background, age, ethnicity, race, nation of origin, languages spoken, culture, religion, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, opinions, and beliefs.