IHOP free pancake day benefits Oakland hospital

‘ ‘ ‘ Millions of pancake lovers nationwide helped to support local pediatric hospitals… ‘ ‘ ‘ Millions of pancake lovers nationwide helped to support local pediatric hospitals yesterday, one bite at a time. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In celebration of the fourth annual National Pancake Day, International House Of Pancakes restaurants partnered with Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for its network of 170 pediatric hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh among four other Pennsylvania hospitals. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Our goal is to raise $1 million in one day,’ said Patrick Lenow, national spokesman for IHOP restaurants. ‘[It] is a bit aggressive, but our guests have always been generous, so we think they’ll support the worthy cause.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Throughout the day, IHOP’s 1,375 participating restaurants treated customers to a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. In return, they asked that customers make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network, suggesting a contribution of $4.49 ‘mdash; the regular menu price of a short stack. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ IHOP opened its first two franchise restaurants in Western Pennsylvania, located in Robinson Town Centre and Uniontown, last year. All proceeds collected from these local restaurants on National Pancake Day will directly benefit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Lenow said that IHOP raised more than $875,000 for Children’s Miracle Network during last year’s National Pancake Day celebration, bringing total IHOP donations to almost $2 million over the past three years. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Supporting the community far outweighs the cost of providing free pancakes, he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We don’t see it as a bother at all,’ said Lenow. ‘It’s a lot of fun. The restaurants enjoy it, and of course it’s for a great cause.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Unlike many national fundraisers, said Aubrey Cichelli, director of public relations at Children’s Miracle Network, IHOP’s National Pancake Day celebration is unique because all contributions from the single-day event directly benefit local pediatric hospitals. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Mandy Ranalli, manager of the Children’s Miracle Network at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, said that because both Western Pennsylvania’ IHOP franchises are new, this was the first year that Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh participated in National Pancake Day. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Ranalli said that each network hospital can spend its money to support its greatest needs, such as patient care, research, equipment or training, among others. At Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, she said, the money will be spent internally ‘mdash; as opposed’ to outside projects, like the new hospital building project in Lawrenceville, which is slated to open in May. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ According to IHOP’s Web site, the mass pancake eating began hundreds of years ago to commemorate Mardi Gras, the day before the Lenten fasting season begins. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Catholics traditionally observed Lent by imposing dietary restrictions, sometimes including eggs, milk and butter, which are key ingredients for pancakes. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Robinson Town Centre IHOP served’ more than’ 1,200 people’ yesterday’ to celebrate National Pancake Day, said general manager John Swope, who called in extra staff members for the event. The restaurant is still calculating donation totals. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Swope said that after he and his fellow store managers toured Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, they decided to focus all the restaurant’s fundraising efforts to support the hospital. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘[National Pancake Day] is not about our franchise group, it’s about Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the miracles they perform there,’ said Swope. ‘It’s just an incredible place.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Barbara Tunder of Kennedy, Pa., along with friend Helen Mannarino of McKees Rocks, Pa., was among the customers enjoying free pancakes at the Robinson Town Centre franchise. Although she didn’t know it was National Pancake Day, Tunder said that she was happy to support Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Of course, I have five kids, so we were always at Children’s Hospital,’ said Tunder, a former Oakland resident. ‘We’re just so thankful for what it has to offer.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Evan Stone, 3 years old, also celebrated IHOP’s National Pancake Day with his father, D.J. Stone, of Hopewell, Pa. The family has a personal connection to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Evan’s younger sister was treated for a premature birth, said Stone. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Cichelli, as a mother of two young sons who were treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals,’ said that every donation is important ‘mdash; even from a fundraiser as simple as pancakes. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Most people’s lives will be impacted by a Children’s Miracle Network hospital,’ she said. ‘It’s such an easy way to give back to your community and make a difference in the lives of kids.’