Children’s Miracle Network pancake fundraiser to be served up Tuesday

ALBANY — IHOP Restaurants has set the date for its 13th annual IHOP National Pancake Day, the centerpiece of the company’s 60 Days of Giving campaign to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

The IHOP National Pancake Day and related activities benefit CMN and other charities dedicated to finding cures and eradicating life-threatening diseases that affect children and families. During that day at IHOPs in Albany and Adel, all donations will benefit CMN at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

Guests can receive a free short stack of the restaurant’s buttermilk pancakes Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at IHOP locations nationwide. In return, guests are asked to leave a donation of any size on-check or in-restaurant, with all funds going to the charity partners’ regional hospital affiliate.

To mark its 60th year in business, IHOP and its franchisees set a goal of raising $5 million for children’s hospitals and medical research during the two-month campaign, and say they hope to serve 5 million pancakes that day. Last year, the IHOP in Albany raised slightly more than $6,600, and $945 was generated in Adel.

This year officials at the locations say they are looking to raise $8,500 combined.

Becca Miller, CMN coordinator for Phoebe, said VIP tables are available to businesses.

“Last year was the first year we offered VIP tables, and it was so successful we decided to do again,” Miller said. “Local businesses purchase the tables for their employees to enjoy an hour of fellowship while giving back to the community.”

Sponsors for the VIP tables this year include Doherty, Duggan, Hart & Tiernan; Miracle KIA of Albany; Miracle Toyota of Albany; Flint Community Bank; Turner’s Furniture; Complete Carriers; Remax of Albany, and PeoplesSouth Bank. The Kiwanis Club of Albany will serve as a VIP table sponsor as well as a CMN ambassador, visiting each table to tell guests about the work that CMN does.

By the end of March, guests have several ways to support CMN at Phoebe, including:

— Visiting any IHOP on Tuesday during the event hours and donating after eating a free stack of pancakes;

— Purchasing a wall icon in increments of $1, $5, $20 or $100 through Tuesday to show support. Guests who purchase a $5 wall icon will receive a $5 coupon good for a future purchase of $10 or more that is valid at participating restaurants;

— Making an in-restaurant cash contribution or on-check donation while eating at the restaurant.

Officials said all donations raised in Albany and Adel to benefit CMN stay in Southwest Georgia to help medical professionals treat the area’s children. Since 1997, CMN supporters have raised more than $4.5 million to provide specialized equipment and programs to help babies and children treated at Phoebe.

For more information, contact the Phoebe Foundation at (229) 312-1491.