Millions of Free Pancakes Given Away for National Pancake Day at IHOP

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- Millions of free pancakes are being given away at IHOP's all across the country as part of National Pancake Day.

The hope is that in exchange for a free short stack, customers will make a donation.

All the money raised will go towards Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Shriners Hospital for Children, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and other local charities.

In the Hudson Valley donations will benefit the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

Time Warner Cable News caught up with a family who knows first-hand how important the hospital is.

"He was born at 25 weeks gestation. He spent 88 days at the NICU there. So this is extremely important to us to raise money for the hospital where he was born and ultimately they saved his life," said Katie Pedro, a patient's mother.

IHOP began celebrating National Pancake Day in 2006 and has raised nearly $16 million since then.