|
IHOP, one of America’s favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, has announced plans to serve millions of free pancakes in celebration of National Pancake Day on February 24, 2017. The celebration is designed to bring together friends and family, as well as to raise $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children’s hospitals, and other worthy causes. 2017 will mark IHOP’s sixth year of celebrating the national event, and nearly 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy IHOP’s free buttermilk pancakes from 7 a．m. to 10 p．m. In return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would pay for the free pancakes, or more, to their local children’s hospital or another worthy cause. Additionally, Miracle Balloons will be sold for $1 each, displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from February 1 through February 24, 2017, offering guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort. Known also as Fat Tuesday, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepared for the food restrictions of Lent (大斋节). Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products (乳制品) during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of milk, butter and other dairy products. Since the first National Pancake Day in 2007, IHOP has raised nearly $2 million to support charities in communities in which it operates. Last year, IHOP gave away more than 1.5 million pancakes and raised over $875,000 in support of Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities, far exceeding its goal to raise $750,000. | 
