IHOP restaurants celebrate a decade of giving with free pancakes on National Pancake Day

Annual fundraiser has raised $16 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Shriners Hospitals for Children, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other local charities

IHOP restaurants are celebrating the 10^th anniversary of National Pancake Day March 3, once again offering one free short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes to guests to enjoy in IHOP restaurants in the hopes they will pay it forward by making a voluntary donation to their local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Shriners Hospital for Children, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or other local charities.

Participating IHOP Restaurants plan to give away millions of free pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to celebrate this decade of giving.

More than 1,500 IHOP restaurants across the U.S. will participate in this annual event which, to date, has raised $16 million for charity. All of the donations raised stay within the communities, helping provide lifesaving treatment and equipment for local sick and injured children.

In 2015, National Pancake Day continues to spread throughout the world: for the second year in a row, IHOP restaurants in Canada and Mexico will participate in the fundraiser, joined for the first time by IHOP restaurants in the Philippines. IHOP restaurants in Canada will again support the Children's Miracle Network and IHOP restaurants in Mexico will raise money for Asociación Mexicana de Ayuda a Niños con Cáncer, which provides accommodations and resources to children undergoing treatment for cancer and their families. IHOP restaurants in the Philippines will raise funds for The Kythe Foundation, which provides children with cancer and chronic illness opportunities to learn, play and grow while they are in the hospital.

"It's both incredible and incredibly gratifying that we are now marking a full decade of National Pancake Day, which has become not only a favorite of guests, but of our franchisees and team members," said Julia Stewart, interim president, International House of Pancakes LLC. "Little did we dream, 10 years ago, that, thanks to the generosity of our guests, we would be able to raise $16 million, one short stack at a time, and make a substantial difference in the lives of the children in our local communities."

"It is also thrilling to see National Pancake Day grow into International Pancake Day, and to see how truly global the spirit of giving back to the community is," Stewart said. "Now that the tradition has become established in Canada and Mexico, we look forward to welcoming our restaurants in the Philippines to this worldwide effort, and to continuing this international growth for many decades to come."

In the weeks leading up to National Pancake Day, participating IHOP restaurants will sell "Miracle Balloons" for $1 and $5 to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The balloons will be available through National Pancake Day. Guests who purchase a $5 Miracle Balloon will receive a $5 discount coupon that can be used during their next dining visit. Similar icons are for sale in those restaurants supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

For more information on National Pancake Day or to learn more about Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and to make a donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations - including those made on IHOP National Pancake Day - stay local to fund critical treatments and health care services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. 

Since 1983, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity's Miracle Balloon icon. Its fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

Visit www.CMNHospitals.org.

About Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Its 23 facilities, located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

Learn more at http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, LLS has chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.

About International House Of Pancakes

For more than 56 years, International House of Pancakes has been a leader and expert in all things breakfast and a leader in family dining. The chain is highly competitive in its menu offering, serving 65 different signature, made-to-order breakfast options as well as a range of meals under 600 calories. IHOP restaurants have a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items, as well. As of Sept. 30, there were 1,664 IHOP restaurants in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the Philippines and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, visit www.IHOP.com.