IHOP has announced plans to serve free pancakes as part of the company's philanthropic National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Planned as a celebration of friends, family, and community, IHOP hopes the program in 2011 will raise $2.3 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that raises funds for 170 children's hospitals, as well as other worthy local causes.

More than 1,500 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP's signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. as part of the sixth annual National Pancake Day. Guests are invited to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals or other worthy causes.

"IHOP's National Pancake Day has become a highly anticipated annual event in communities throughout the United States, and provides our guests a fun opportunity to support the efforts of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities," says Jean Birch, IHOP's president. "Last year, we surpassed our goal of raising $5 million in our first five years, and this year we are raising the bar again with our most ambitious fundraising goal to date."

Additionally, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals "Miracle Balloons" will be sold for $1 and $5 each and will be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from Feb. 1 through March 1, 2011. Miracle Balloons offer guests an additional way to show their support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and contribute to the IHOP National Pancake Day fundraising effort.

Since the inception of its National Pancake Day in 2006, IHOP has raised more than $5.35 million to support charities in the communities in which it operates. In 2010 alone, IHOP served more than four million free pancakes and raised over $2.1 million in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.