Okizu Employee Directory
Non-profit OrganizationsCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees
Okizu is a nonprofit organization based in Novato, California, focused on families affected by childhood cancer. It delivers peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational activities through a residential camp model, aiming to help children navigate illness while maintaining opportunities for growth. Since 1982, Okizu has sustained programs for oncology, siblings, family, bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties in partnership with pediatric oncology centers in Northern California, using the camp experience to foster community and practical support throughout the cancer journey. The approach emphasizes the value of a peer network and year-round collaboration with volunteers and medical partners to reach those served. Its primary beneficiaries are children with cancer and their families seeking emotional and practical support beyond clinical care. In 2019, Okizu appointed Dr. Stuart Kaplan as executive director, and the organization remains based in Novato while collaborating with a network of partners across the region.