IHOP: Newly Crowned Miss America 2009 Flips for Kids
Katie Stam Joins IHOP to Help Raise $1 Million for Children’s Miracle
Network on National Pancake Day February 24
GLENDALE, CA—(MARKET WIRE)—01/26/09— Immediately following
her crowning as Miss America 2009 on Saturday, Katie Stam announced
plans to serve as the official spokesperson for National Pancake Day
on behalf of IHOP. To benefit Children’s Miracle Network, IHOP plans
to give away millions of its signature buttermilk pancakes, one free
short stack at a time on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from 7 a.m. to 10
p.m. In return, IHOP hopes that satisfied guests will make a
voluntary donation to support local children’s hospitals through
Children’s Miracle Network, and other local charities.
“It is a great honor to be the National Goodwill Ambassador for
Children’s Miracle Network and to serve as a spokesperson for their
fundraising partnership with IHOP on National Pancake Day,” said
Katie. “Children’s Miracle Network is an important cause to the Miss
America Organization and to me, and I hope to turn pancakes into
miracles for children across the country. What could be more
satisfying than free pancakes and helping children?”
IHOP launched its National Pancake Day fundraising effort in 2006
with the goal to benefit the communities in which it operates. Last
year’s fundraiser was the largest one-day event in IHOP’s 50-year
history by giving away more than 1.5 million pancakes and raising
more than $875,000 for local children’s hospitals and other worthy
causes. To date, IHOP has raised nearly $2 million dollars in support
of local charities and hopes to raise at least $1 million in 2009.
“National Pancake Day is the perfect occasion to bring together
families and friends, while raising funds for the communities where
IHOPs operate,” said Des Hague, IHOP’s president. “We congratulate
Katie Stam on her coronation as Miss America and we’re excited to
partner with her and the Miss America Organization in support of
Children’s Miracle Network as they continue to make a difference in
the lives of children across the country.”
Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day is a
centuries-old tradition dating back to when the English would rid ice
boxes of dairy products in preparation for Lent. Strict rules
prohibited the eating of all dairy products during then Lenten
season, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk,
butter and other dairy products… hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or
Shrove Tuesday.
For more information about National Pancake Day, to find a local
IHOP, or to donate to Children’s Miracle Network, please visit
http://www.IHOPpancakeday.com.
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 http://www.missamerica.org.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK
Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit
organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s
hospitals. Countless individuals, 90 organizations and 400 media
partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick
and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s
Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and
education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children
each year. To learn more go to http://www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.
Contact:
Patrick Lenow/Dan Ischy
IHOP
818-637-3629/818-637-4756
Terry Wills/Claire Delacruz
Wills Communications, Inc.
310-524-0200
Sharon Pearce
Miss America Organization
609-653-8700
Click here for more information about IHOP restaurants (DineEquity)