Happy's Pizza and Greater Grace Temple Join Forces to Give Away 4,000 Free Winter Coats to Help Low-Income Youth Stay Warm this Winter

"Happy's Coats For Kids" has provided over 10,000 free winter coats for low-income children since 2009

DETROIT, Nov. 16, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Could you imagine a child without a decent winter coat? It happens. That's why Happy's Pizza and Greater Grace Temple have joined forces in "Happy's Coats For Kids" Winter Coat Giveaway. They'll provide 4,000 "FREE" brand new winter coats for Detroit-area youngsters on Saturday, November 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for families with special vouchers, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for those without vouchers while supplies last. The giveaway happens at the New Rogell Golf Course, 18601 Berg Road in Detroit.

"Happy's Coats For Kids" is the pizza chain's way of getting the holidays off to a great start, and meeting an important need in the community. This is the 3rd year that they have partnered with Greater Grace Temple and retired Detroit Lion Lomas Brown. This year more support from the Detroit Lions includes a special appearance by Maurice Morris. Volunteers from Bank of America and City Year will lend a helping hand as well.

"It is always a great feeling to assist people with some basic needs in life, and we are excited to provide thousands of kids this winter with a brand new coat," says Greater Grace's Senior Pastor Bishop Charles H. Ellis III.

After a 3 year effort, close to 12,000 young people have benefited from this outreach. The coats are for youngsters 3 - 13 years of age. Sizes (2T - 2X Large) based on availability. Here is the process:

• Financially struggling families may pick up a voucher at Happy's Pizza locations in the Greater Detroit area beginning on Monday, November 21st.
• Parents MUST present the voucher between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the New Rogell Golf Course on Saturday, November 26th to pick up a coat. For each voucher a child MUST be present.
• Parents without vouchers may pick up coats while supplies last from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For each coat a child MUST be present.

For more information, just stop by any Detroit area Happy's Pizza location, and ask about "Happy's Coats For Kids." You can also visit www.greatergrace.org.

ABOUT HAPPY'S PIZZA
In just 15 short years, Happy's Pizza has become one of Detroit's major players. With new stores opening throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas, California and beyond.

Happy's Pizza was established in 1996 and since has become a tradition in the Metro Detroit area. Happy's Pizza has an extremely high standard of quality, customer service and attention to detail. Their large menu variety and great value is what makes them stand out. There's something for mom, dad, kid, even grandpa and grandma. There are many places that deliver pizza, but very few that deliver ribs, chicken, seafood and much more. The decor includes solid granite counter and tabletops, bright neon signage, ceramic tile and walls of Venetian plaster.

Happy Asker, now 34, was just 18 when he opened his first Happy's Pizza. He'd been working at a video store at Seven Mile and Hoover and noted a lack of dining options in the area. His family owned a pizzeria in San Diego and he knew he could do the same in Michigan. Recently, Happy's moved its 25 corporate employees into a new 12,500-square-foot headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Happy's Pizza is very proud to be able to do its part in making a contribution to each community in which we serve. With rapid expansion under way, they provide many new jobs, great investment potential and innovative employee profit-sharing opportunities. Happy's Pizza also makes charity a major priority. Whether it's Coats for Kids, turkey giveaways or school lunch programs, Happy is committed to giving something back to the community. As their stores continue to thrive, Happy's Pizza will continue to expand market share throughout the United States.

ABOUT GREATER GRACE TEMPLE
Greater Grace Temple is one of the largest churches in the Detroit area. The church was founded in 1927 with only three members. Today there are over 7,000.

Greater Grace has long been a spiritual pillar of the Motor City, as well as an influential part of the civic community with continued efforts and outreaches to make Detroit a better place. The church has served as host to many pivotal community events, including the funeral of Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Its state of the art 35-million dollar facility anchors the site known as "The City of David," a 19-acre campus in NW Detroit. Ellis Manor, an 89-unit apartment complex for seniors built by the church, also sits on the site. In 2007, the church purchased the historic 18-hole New Rogell Golf Course which was featured in Golfweek and Golf World magazines.

GGT's Senior Pastor Bishop Charles H. Ellis III is also the newly elected Presiding Bishop of the 1.3 million member Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. The PAW is the world's oldest Pentecostal denomination. He is also Bishop over the diocese of Ghana, W. Africa where he oversees 100 churches.

Locally, he is a respected civic leader and is known as "a man with a heart for people." This is evidenced by the church's more than 250 ministries. He has also been appointed to numerous boards:

• Board member Sinai-Grace Hospital (Detroit)
• Board member Detroit Zoological Society
• Board member YMCA
• Chairman of the Mayor's Strategic Framework Plan Task Force

Bishop Ellis is a Business Administration graduate of Wayne State University with a major in Accounting. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Aenon Bible College. He is married to Crisette Michelle, and is the proud father of three children: Kiera, Charles IV, and Kirsten who made her transition in 1994.

SOURCE Greater Grace Temple