STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For 10 years, IHOP has celebrated National Pancake Day with complimentary buttermilk pancakes. Borough patrons can get served Tuesday, March 3, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Proceeds from the Graniteville IHOP, located at 935 Richmond Ave., go to Children's Specialized Hospital, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

First, to clarify exactly what is the food give-away situation for that day: Store reps told us the deal includes a single pancake offered to patrons, good with a donation to said charities.

However, that might not be so.

Local IHOP owner/operator Master Jhong Uhk Kim, known for his generosity in the Staten Island community, says it's a flapjack free-for-all where customers can get unlimited supplies of the item.

Before you start fasting for the event, IHOP spokeswoman Kelsey Harringing wants to clarify: "Actually, your local IHOP gives one free short stack per person and asks [customers] to leave behind a voluntary donation to local charity."

The fundraiser isn't just for Staten Islanders: It happens on March 3 across the United States, in Mexico, Canada, and the Phillipines at over 1,500 IHOP locations. In the past, the event raised $16 million, donations slated for childrens' causes in the communities where the pancake chain does business.



"It's both incredible and incredibly gratifying that we are now marking a full decade of National Pancake Day, which has become not only a favorite of guests, but of our franchisees and team members," said Julia Stewart in a press release, Interim President, International House of Pancakes, LLC.

Gearing up for National Pancake Day, participating IHOP restaurants will also sell "Miracle Balloons" for $1 and $5 to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Balloons were available starting Feb. 1 through National Pancake Day. IHOP patrons who purchase a $5 Miracle Balloon will receive a $5 discount coupon for use on the next dining visit.

The 56-year-old company, International House of Pancakes, LLC, sells 65 different breakfast items and specializes in a signature buttermilk pancake with flavored syrup fixin's.

One version of Pancake Day comes as an English tradition, Shrove Tuesday, which happens the day before Ash Wednesday. The practice was meant to use up eggs, butter, milk and other perishables before the 40-day Lenten fast.