Free Pancakes Anyone?

Imagine a pile of golden brown pancakes, dripping with melted butter and overflowing with syrup.

Cost to you? $0. Benefit to children's hospitals? Hopefully $5 million.

For the fifth year in a row, IHOP is celebrating National Pancake Day on February 23 by offering all customers a free short stack of pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In return, the restaurant's hoping you'll consider making a donation to its charity of choice, the Children's Miracle Network.

Traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday, this year's event falls a week later to maximize donations. More than $3.25 million has been raised over the years, and the 2010 goal is to hit the $5 million mark.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but breakfast's another story.

To find an IHOP near you or make a donation, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com