Okizu Gala Cancellation

First and foremost, your Okizu family wishes you and your family health and safety.

It is with a heavy heart we announce that our annual gala event, Art Inspiring Hope, will not take place in 2020. In these uncertain times, we feel it best to concentrate our energies on making sure we are doing everything we can to host our programs in some capacity in the 2020 season. We look forward to having Art Inspiring Hope back stronger than ever in March 2021.

As we struggle with the uncertainty that surrounds us, we are reminded of the uncertainty that surrounds a family experiencing childhood cancer and of their search for support and reassurance. Okizu offers the support, community, and safety that we all seek, especially in difficult times.

As you might imagine, the cancellation of Art Inspiring Hope presents a tremendous financial challenge for us. The event generates a significant amount of our annual income vital to fulfilling our mission. One of the most magical parts of Art Inspiring Hope is when the focus of the live auction shifts to “Send a Kid to Camp” and our patrons raise their bidder paddles in support of Okizu’s children and families. From the first day we opened our doors, we have never charged a fee to attend any of our camps or other programs, and the generosity of our supporters, especially during Art Inspiring Hope’s “Send a Kid to Camp” campaign, has allowed us to maintain that policy.

It costs Okizu approximately $1,000 to host a camper for one week of summer camp. In the absence of Art Inspiring Hope this year, several of our generous donors have already stepped forward to pledge $125,000 toward funding our mission. We hope you can join them in a virtual campaign to help us reach our goal of raising $350,000 to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer to heal through peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs.

Thank you for considering support in this difficult time. We hope you and your loved ones find peace in the days ahead and that we will be able to see you in person soon.