IHOP serves up free short stacks for National Pancake Day

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Pancakes were flying off the griddle and heading to the tables of happy customers at IHOP on National Pancake Day -- Tuesday, February 5th.

"They`re excellent. They have a buttery flavor. They`re nice and fluffy -- the perfect pancake," IHOP customer Emily Knoelke said.

IHOP and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals celebrated National Pancake Day with a free short stack for customers who made a donation to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

"We do National Pancake Day every year because it`s an opportunity for me to teach my children about giving back to the community," IHOP customer Rashida Reese said.

The money is designated to family services and patient amenity programs.

"All the extra special things that we do for kids in our hospital our playrooms, our social workers, our animal therapy programs, that make their stays less stressful and helps support their parents," Liz Girsch with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin said.

Tuesday was especially meaningful to the family of four-year-old Jordan Amble. She was born with a rare disorder and doctors didn't think she'd make it through the night.

"They are one of the reasons my daughter is here. They helped save her life. They may not have even known what was wrong with her if she was at a different hospital because it is such a rare condition," Jordan's mother, Sarah Amble said.

As customers realized they were helping families like Jordan's they left with both a full stomach and a full heart.

On National Pancake day in 2012, IHOP served four million free pancakes and raised more than $3 million for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

This year's National Pancake Day runs from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5th.