Free Pancakes to Benefit Charity on February 20GLENDALE, CA, Jan 30, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Just one day after being crowned Miss America, Lauren Nelson, has
been named the official spokesperson for National Pancake Day. On
Tuesday, February 20, IHOP (NYSE: IHP) and Miss America will flip for
charity with the second National Pancake Day celebration. IHOP will
give away one free short stack of its famous buttermilk pancakes from
7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to all its guests, and in return, invite them to
donate to their local children's hospital through Children's Miracle
Network.
The newly crowned Miss America, Lauren Nelson, will take the stage as
the official spokesperson for National Pancake Day, also known as
Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday, a centuries-old tradition brought back
to life by America's favorite pancake powerhouse. The Miss America
Organization is also a partner of Children's Miracle Network, a
non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives
of children by raising funds for children's hospitals throughout the
United States.
"National Pancake Day is the perfect occasion to bring together
families and friends, while raising significant funds for their local
communities," said Carolyn O'Keefe, Chief Marketing Officer of IHOP
Corp. "We're thrilled to partner with Miss America to help spread
this message in support of Children's Miracle Network, and truly make
a difference in the lives of thousands of children."
"I am honored to be a part of National Pancake Day as my first
official charitable duty as the National Goodwill Ambassador for
Children's Miracle Network," said Lauren Nelson, of Lawton, Okla.,
who was crowned Miss America on January 29. "I love pancakes, and
Children's Miracle Network is an important cause to the Miss America
Organization and me personally, so I'm excited to help turn pancakes
into miracles for children across the country."
Pancake Day has been celebrated for centuries in England on the day
before Lent, with a tradition and lore all its own. Tradition
prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes
were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk and butter, hence the
name Pancake Day.
All 1,302 IHOP restaurants will have a designated Children's Miracle
Network hospital or other local charity as the recipient of funds
raised on National Pancake Day. There is a limit of one free short
stack per guest. The offer is valid at participating restaurants for
dine-in only while supplies last, and is not valid with any other
offer, special, coupon or discount. To find an IHOP location, please
visit www.IHOP.com.
ABOUT IHOP CORP.
The IHOP family restaurant chain has been serving a wide variety of
breakfast, lunch and dinner selections for more than 45 years.
Offering 14 types of pancakes as well as omelettes, breakfast
specialties, burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken and steaks, IHOP's
diverse menu appeals to people of all ages. IHOP restaurants are
franchised and operated by Glendale, California-based IHOP Corp. As
of December 31, 2006, the end of IHOP's fourth quarter, there were
1,302 IHOP restaurants in 49 states and Canada. IHOP Corp. common
stock is listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol "IHP." For
more information, call the Company's Restaurant Support Center at
(818) 240-6055 or visit the Company's Web site located at
www.ihop.com.
ABOUT CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK
Children's Miracle Network -- the alliance of premier hospitals for
children -- is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and
improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's
hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle
Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving
research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome
diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.
ABOUT THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading
achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship
assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization
and its state and local organizations made available more than $45
million in cash and scholarship assistance. For more information, go
to www.missamerica.org.
Jennifer Pendergrass
IHOP Corp.
818-637-3603
James Doyle/Tracy Garcia
IHOP News Bureau
866-202-6688
SOURCE: IHOP Corp.
