IHOP restaurants will serve up millions of free flapjacks Tuesday, National Pancake Day.
This year’s goal is to raise $1.75 million for the Children’s Miracle Network, an international nonprofit organization that supports children’s hospitals. Hitting that goal would put the company’s donation at a total of $5 million in the celebration’s five-year history.
From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy a free short stack of the chain’s signature pancakes. In return, guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the three free pancakes. Guests also can purchase “Miracle Balloons” for $1 and $5 each to be personalized and displayed. For more information, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.
AREA LOCATIONS
Tennessee
* Chattanooga: 5707 Brainerd Road; 490-0559.
* Hixson: 5113 Highway 153; 877-4732.
* Cleveland: 4323 Freedom Parkway NW; 423-479-9707.
Georgia
* Fort Oglethorpe: 2047 Battlefield Parkway; 706-858-9800.
* Dalton: 1510 Walnut Ave.; 706-226-2862.
* Calhoun: 742 Highway 53 SE; 706-624-9800.
* Ellijay: 90 Highland Crossing South; 706-698-4467.
* Rome: 35 Riverbend Drive SW; 706-295-2172.
BY THE NUMBERS
* 1,433: Number of IHOPs in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
* 3 million: Number of pancakes IHOP gave away in 2009.
* 6.1 million: Number of pancakes given away since 2006.
* 53.5: Length in miles that many short stacks would reach.
* 170: Number of children’s hospitals served by the Children’s Miracle Network.
* 17 million: Number of children served by the network each year.
DID YOU KNOW?
For centuries, the English have eaten pancakes in celebration of Shrove Tuesday, the beginning of fasting during Lent. Long ago, strict rules prohibited eating dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products. IHOP’s National Pancake Day typically takes place on Shrove Tuesday, but this year the company delayed the celebration by one week to maximize donations to the Children’s Miracle Network.