COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
If you're waking up
extra hungry this morning, IHOP restaurants in the Midlands and nationwide are
serving up free short stacks of pancakes all day long.
This is the eighth year that IHOP is giving
away free pancakes on National Pancake Day, in hopes that customers will give
back by leaving a donation for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN).
All six IHOP locations in the Midlands are
participating in the national event which has raised more than $10 million
dollars for CMN since 2006. Last year, IHOP broke their $2.5 million goal when
they received more than $3 million in donations. This year, the restaurant
chain says their goal is to raise more than $3 million again.
Children's Miracle Network is a support
network for a chain of 170 children's hospital's nationwide, including Palmetto
Health Children's Hospital in Columbia. The funds donated through CMN help
hospitals continue to provide life-saving servings and programs for sick and
injured children.
At the Lexington IHOP on Sunset Boulevard,
General Manager Dori Bruccoli says they served up more than 3,000 pancakes last
year and raised close to $2,000. She says they're hoping to beat those numbers
this year. All of the money raised at all six IHOP locations in the Midlands
will go directly to Palmetto Health Children's.
"I think that it's a unique opportunity to
touch a child's life by eating pancakes for free, breakfast, lunch or dinner,"
said Wesley Shaw, with the Palmetto Health Children's Hospital foundation. "You
can help save a child's life, [and] I think it's just a great opportunity for
everyone in the community to support," said Shaw.
Shaw says at each IHOP location, customers
will be greeted by waiters and waitresses in CMN shirts. There is also a blue
box that says "Donate Here" located at each restaurant. Shaw says be sure to
tip your waiter or waitress and then place your donation in the donate box to
ensure your gift is counted.
The free pancake giveaway lasts from
7:00am-10:00pm. There are three IHOP Locations in Columbia, one in Lexington,
and one in Sumter and Orangeburg. To find your nearest location: http://ihop.com/.
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