Okizu Foundation

Okizu (oak-eye-zoo) comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole.

The mission of Okizu is to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer to heal through peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs.

Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs since 1982. These programs are the result of a collaborative effort between Okizu and the pediatric oncology treatment centers in Northern California. The specific purpose of Okizu is to operate peer support programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer based on the community-forming nature of an overnight camp experience.

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 families, especially 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 and Northern Nevada affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, ethnicity, or economic background.

In 2020, Okizu’s 500-acre residential camp facility in Berry Creek, CA was destroyed by wildfire, and we have been operating our programs at rental facilities ever since. In October 2024, we announced the purchase of a new property in Calaveras County which will become the new, permanent home of Camp Okizu. With the new property comes substantial fundraising goals, including a capital campaign, which makes this a particularly exciting time to join the Okizu team.