The inaugural charity tournament at Marin Country Club in Novato, Calif. included golf, tennis, lunch, a cocktail hour and silent auction, as well as dinner and live auction. “This achievement is a testament to the unwavering support and generosity of this community,” says Marin Country Club General Manager Greg French.

Members and guests of Marin Country Club in Novato, Calif. raised more than $200,000 for the Okizu Foundation during a recent charity golf tournament. The mission of Novato-based Okizu is to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer to heal through peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs.

The inaugural charity tournament was played September 16 and included Marin Country Club members and guests. Organized by the club’s Charities Committee, the daylong event included golf, tennis, lunch, a cocktail hour and silent auction, as well as dinner and live auction.

“Marin Country Club put on an event filled with fun, camaraderie, and friendship, which will allow families impacted by childhood cancer to experience the same things while at Camp Okizu,” said Suzie Randall, Executive Director, Okizu. “We are so grateful to everyone at Marin Country Club for their partnership and for bringing together such a generous group of people for such a special event. All donations raised will provide free support programs to cancer patients, siblings, and parents while we recover from the 2020 fires and search for our new property.”

Okizu, pronounced oak-eye-zoo, comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole. For more than 40 years, Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs. 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 a residential camp experience.

“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering support and generosity of this community,” said Marin Country Club General Manager Greg French. “Thank you to all those who donated, sponsored, and attended this unforgettable event. We extend a special thank you to the dedicated Charities Committee and our diligent team here at the club. Their meticulous planning played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this event and the resulting donation to Okizu.”