In celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer each guest a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities.

This year, IHOP is hoping to stack up more donations than ever before, with a goal to raise $1.75 million, for a total of $5 million in five years with its National Pancake Day fundraising effort.

IHOP locations closest to Redmond are 14747 NE 20th St. in Bellevue and 1433 NW Sammamish Rd. in Issaquah.

Some fun facts from National Pancake Day 2009 include:

• Pancake lovers donated nearly $1.5 million to children’s charities, far exceeding the fundraising goal.

• IHOP served 2.5 million free pancakes on National Pancake Day 2009.

• All of the free pancakes served on National Pancake Day 2009 would have created a stack more than 20 miles high.

• Since the inception of National Pancake Day in 2006, IHOP has raised more than $3.25 million and given away more than 6.1 million pancakes to support charities in the communities in which it operates.

• National Pancake Day 2009 was IHOP’s largest one-day event in the company’s 51-year history.

To find a local IHOP or to donate online, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.