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IHOP, one of
America's favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and
dinner, has announced plans to serve millions of free
pancakes again next year in celebration of National Pancake
Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Planned as a celebration
of friends, family and community, IHOP hopes the program
will raise $1.75 million for Children's Miracle Network, an
international non-profit organization that raises funds for
children's hospitals, and other worthy local causes.
2010
will mark IHOP's fifth year celebrating the national event
and the company has set an ambitious goal to raise a
cumulative $5 million for charity in the first five years of
its free flapjack philanthropic effort. More than 1,400
IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once
again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP's
signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on
National Pancake Day. In return, IHOP guests are asked to
donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or
more, to the Children's Miracle Network hospital in their
community, or another designated local cause.
" We are flipping
for 'five in five' with our 2010 National Pancake Day
campaign, and with our guests' generous support, plan to
reach our goal of $5 million in five years," said Carolyn
O'Keefe, IHOP's senior vice president, marketing.
"IHOP's franchisees and
guests have raised more than $3.25 million to support
Children's Miracle Network and other local charities since
we started our National Pancake Day in 2006. The day has
become a tradition for families and friends who wish to
enjoy great food and great service while helping out a great
cause."
Children's Miracle Network
'Miracle Balloons' will be sold for $1 and $5 each and will
be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP
restaurants from February 1 through February 23, 2010.
Miracle Balloon sales offer guests another way to show their
support of Children's Miracle Network and contribute to the
National Pancake Day fundraising effort.
In 2009,
IHOP gave away three million pancakes and raised nearly $1.5
million in support of Children's Miracle Network and other
local charities, far exceeding its goal to raise $1
million. Since starting its National Pancake Day
celebration in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 6.1
million free pancakes to benefit children's charities- that
stacks up more than 53.5 miles high!
For more
information about IHOP's National Pancake Day, or to learn
more about Children's Miracle Network and make an online
donation, visit
http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.
ABOUT CHILDREN'S MIRACLE
NETWORK
Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit
organization
that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals.
Countless individuals, 90 organizations and 400 media
partners unite with Children's Miracle Network hospitals to
help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations
to Children's Miracle Network create miracles by funding
medical care, research and education that saves and improves
the lives of 17 million children each year. To learn more go
to
www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org
ABOUT
IHOP
For 51 years,
the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous
pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner
items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its
guests an affordable, everyday dining experience
with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in
Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of September 30, 2009,
there were 1,433 IHOPs in 50 states, Canada and Mexico. IHOP
restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale,
Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its
affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).
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***NOTE: For centuries, the English have
'flipped' for pancakes in celebration of Shrove Tuesday,
which heralds the beginning of fasting during Lent. Long
ago, strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy
products during Lent so pancakes were made to use up the
supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products . . .
hence the name Pancake Tuesday. While IHOP's National
Pancake Day typically takes place on Shrove Tuesday, this
year the company will host its free pancake event on
Tuesday, February 23, extending the fundraising window by
one week to maximize donations for Children's Miracle
Network.
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