Be a part of pancake history as IHOP serves up FREE pancakes in celebration of National Pancake Day on Feb. 23, 2010.  From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at IHOP restaurants across the country, families and friends can enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s famous buttermilk pancakes, and in turn, make a donation to IHOP’s national charity partner, Children’s Miracle Network, which helps improve the lives of children at the 170 Network hospitals nationwide. All of the funds raised locally will benefit Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Medical Center here in Central Florida.

Offering guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort, Miracle Balloons will be sold for $1 and $5 each, and can be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from February 1 through February 23, 2010.  

National Pancake Day dates back to a centuries-old tradition also known as “Shrove Tuesday” or the more popular “Mardi Gras”, 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. For centuries, the English have “flipped” for pancakes on this day with rich lore and colorful events including pancake races.  The IHOP National Pancake Day fundraiser is planned in February each year in honor of this tradition.

On Feb. 23, IHOP will bring back this beloved tradition with its fifth National Pancake Day Celebration. With over 1,400 restaurants participating in National Pancake Day, IHOP hopes to raise $1.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities.  This amount marks IHOP’s “five in five” goal to bring the total amount of monies raised for local charities to $5 million in five years.  

A great offer like this does have some rules - there is a limit of one free short stack per guest, and the offer is valid at participating restaurants for dine-in only while supplies last, and is not valid with any other offer, special, coupon or discount.

For more information on this worthwhile campaign or to find an IHOP near you, please visit the IHOP website at www.ihoppancakeday.com or contact Amy Moyer at 407-481-2774.

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