SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) of Reno, Sparks, Carson City and South Lake Tahoe are teaming up with Renown Children’s Hospital to raise money and awareness for theChildren’s Miracle Network (CMN), a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children’s hospitals throughout the United States.
From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, guests can enjoy a free short stack of pancakes at any local IHOP. In return IHOP asks that guests donate what they would have spent on the pancakes to CMN. Also, while at IHOP, guests can buy a CMN paper balloon for an additional dollar that will be placed on the wall with a name.Children’s Miracle Network “Miracle Balloons” will be sold for $1 and $5 each from Feb. 1 through Feb. 23, 2010. Miracle Balloon sales offer guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the fundraising effort.
The Children’s Miracle Network mission is to generate funds and awareness programs for the benefit of children served by its associated hospitals, such as Renown Children’s Hospital. In northern Nevada, Renown Children’s Hospital is the only hospital associated with CMN. Every penny raised locally stays in the community to help children in northern Nevada and northeastern California.
This is IHOP’s fifth National Pancake Day. The money raised will help benefit many children including Katy and Paige DuPriest, Nevada’s 2010 Miracle Children. The twins were diagnosed in utero with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (a complication of disproportionate blood supply where two or more fetuses share a chorion and hence a single placenta). As a result, both girls endured a variety of complications after birth.
Today, Katy and Paige are healthy 7-year-old girls. They are in the first grade, full of energy and curiosity, like normal children in their age group.
“Katy and Paige are remarkable examples of how Children’s Miracle Network works its magic,” said Rob DuPriest, the girls’ father. “While in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) I never realized how so much of the equipment around us was provided by Children’s Miracle Network. It truly is an important program to support because of what it provides local children.”
IHOP hopes to raise $1.75 million this year on Pancake Day. For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network and make an online donation, visitwww.ihoppancakeday.com.
