IHOP will give out free pancakes today to celebrate National Pancake Day.
The fundraiser, proceeds from which will go to the Children's Miracle Network at Shands Children's Hospital, will run from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Scott Stazzone, the general manager of the Gainesville IHOP, said customers will get a free short-stack of three buttermilk pancakes. Donations to the Children's Miracle Network are not required, but last year the Southwest 13th Street IHOP served more than 1,000 orders and raised $781, he said.
Other Florida IHOPs also raised money.
Monica Haynes, the program coordinator for the Children's Miracle Network at Shands, said that Florida IHOPs donated $10,997 to the organization.
Nationwide, IHOPs raised $875,000 for the Children's Miracle Network last year, said Dan Ischy, an IHOP spokesman.
IHOP began National Pancake Day in 2006, and it takes place each year on Fat Tuesday to honor the English tradition of making pancakes before the beginning of Lent, Ischy said.
However, students see more in this event than the history behind it.
Joadi-Kay Benjamin, a UF business management sophomore, said she is attracted by the word "free" because she is a college student during a recession.
She plans to stop by IHOP at about 8 a.m. Tuesday and make a donation. She added that IHOP will probably also make money from people who order other food to go with their pancakes.
Teresa Shum, a UF journalism sophomore, said people like to donate to causes benefiting children.
It's hard for people to say no to kids, she said.
But the fundraiser benefits IHOP as well.
Roy Carson, a server at the Gainesville IHOP, said the event is good publicity. He said that he needs coffee to get through the busy day.
Stazzone said the IHOP was packed during last year's event, and customers lined up along the outside of his IHOP to wait for their pancakes.
However, Stazzone said the event still makes him feel fabulous.
"I love it," he said. "I think it's the best thing that IHOP has ever done."
