News Release
| Miss America 2008 Joins IHOP to Help Turn Pancakes Into Miracles on National Pancake Day |
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GLENDALE, CA, Jan 28, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Immediately following her crowning as Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund has been named the official spokesperson of IHOP's third annual National Pancake Day. In celebration of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., IHOP, one of America's favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, will give away one free short stack of its signature buttermilk pancakes to all guests. In return, IHOP asks that its guests consider making a donation to support local children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit dedicated to improving children's hospitals nationwide, or other local charities. "It is an honor to be a part of IHOP's National Pancake Day as my first official charitable event as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network," said Kirsten Haglund. "Children's Miracle Network is an important cause to the Miss America Organization and to me, so I'm very excited to help turn pancakes into miracles for children across the country. After all, how can anyone say no to free pancakes that help children?" IHOP launched its annual National Pancake Day fundraising effort in 2006. In 2007, IHOP joined forces with Children's Miracle Network to give away more than 1.1 million pancakes and raise more than $625,000 for local children's hospitals and other worthy causes. Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration, IHOP has raised approximately one million dollars to support charities in the communities in which it operates. IHOP hopes to raise at least $750,000 with its one day event in 2008. "National Pancake Day is the perfect occasion to bring together families and friends, while raising significant funds for the communities where IHOP restaurants operate," said Carolyn O'Keefe, IHOP's senior vice president, marketing. "We congratulate Kirsten on her coronation as Miss America and we're thrilled to partner with her and the Miss America Organization in support of Children's Miracle Network, and truly make a difference in the lives of thousands of children." Traditionally held on Fat Tuesday or the Tuesday preceding Lent, National Pancake Day celebrates a centuries-old tradition of ridding ice boxes of dairy products in preparation for Lent. And thus, pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk and butter, hence the name Pancake Day. This year, with a large number of presidential primaries taking place on Fat Tuesday, February 5, IHOP has moved its celebration of National Pancake Day to February 12, 2008. For more information about National Pancake Day, to find a local IHOP, or to donate to Children's Miracle Network, please visit www.IHOPpancakeday.com. ABOUT IHOP For 50 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of December 31, 2007, there were 1,344 IHOPs in 49 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Mexico. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based IHOP, a subsidiary of IHOP Corp. (NYSE: IHP). 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. ABOUT CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals. 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. Jennifer Pendergrass IHOP 818-637-3603 Melissa Brabender Wills Communications, Inc. 310-524-0200 Sharon Pearce Miss America Organization 609-653-8700 SOURCE: IHOP |