By Kirsten Buys
C & G Staff Writer

NOVI — In honor of its grand opening, the new California Pizza Kitchen at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi will donate proceeds from one day of business to the Farmington Family YMCA.

One hundred percent of all dine-in pizza sales on Aug. 12 will be donated to the YMCA, located just five miles east of the mall, at 27500 Novi Road.

Farmington Family YMCA Executive Director Rick DuRei is hoping the amount raised that day will be “in the thousands.”

“We have a motto – ‘No one’s denied the Y,’” DuRei said. “This year we will scholarship well over a quarter of a million dollars. It’s money we generate in the community, and it stays in the community.”

The union between California Pizza Kitchen and the local YMCA came through former YMCA Board member Peggy Hayes, who works in the marketing department for the mall. She had to step down from the board to focus on the mall expansion, which includes the restaurant, but connected the two for the fundraiser.

Funds raised will help fund membership and participation in one of four areas. The YMCA offers enrollment funding help to several of its than 400 participants in the various summer camps it offers, including day camps and summer-long camps.

“We pretty well have close to 300 kids a day in our camp programs,” DuRei said. “If people are truly needy, we try to help them out wherever we can.”

The money also will go toward scholarships for the YMCA’s childcare programs, regular memberships and its teen programs, which include about 40,000 teens annually in after -school and other programs.

DuRei is hoping anyone wishing to support the YMCA will choose California Pizza Kitchen for lunch or dinner on Aug. 12. The menu will feature longtime restaurant favorites along with some new additions, including Sonora egg rolls with grilled lime chicken, Buffalo chicken pizza, asparagus and spinach spaghettini, pesto cream penne, and pear and Gorgonzola pizza.

“I think it’s going to be a very successful day for us,” DuRei said. “We encourage people to come out and enjoy a great pizza from the California Pizza Kitchen and support the kids and families in our community.”

The new 5,500-square-foot restaurant is located at the mall entrance between Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. Its regular hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests can dine-in or place a take-out order that can be delivered curbside by calling (248) 449-3280.