Miss Universe Canada offers free IHOP pancakes to everyone in Canada while helping kids in need – March 12

IHOP® RESTAURANTS IN CANADA CELEBRATE NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY, TUESDAY MARCH 12 OFFERING FREE PANCAKES TO HELP SUPPORT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK MEMBER HOSPITALS   

Brand’s Signature Day of Giving Celebrates Sixth Year; More than A Quarter of a Million Dollars Raised for Children’s Health in Canada to Date

Marta Stepien, Miss Universe Canada 2018, to Serve as Honorary Ambassador

Canada will be celebrating its sixth Annual IHOP® National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 7 am to 7 pm, inviting guests to enjoy a complimentary short stack* of IHOP’s world famous buttermilk pancakes at participating IHOP Restaurants across the country.  In return, guests are asked to help make a difference in the health of the community’s children by leaving a donation of any size with all funds collected going to the local Children’s Miracle Network member hospital in their area.

Marta Stepien, Miss Universe Canada 2018 and a top ten finalist in the annual Miss Universe pageant, will serve as the Day’s Honorary Ambassador, spreading the message of the importance of supporting Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals through National Pancake Day.

This year, for the first time, there’s another delicious way to help support the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals:  an “Oreo® My Goodness! Pancake”, created by six-year-old Brody Simoncini, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital patient himself.

Brody’s creation is a stack of two buttermilk pancakes with OREO® cookie pieces baked in and topped with vanilla icing and more cookie pieces and whipped topping and will be available in IHOP restaurants today through April 14.  One dollar from every stack sold will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network.

Since National Pancake Day was inaugurated in Canada, guests have generously donated more than $275,000 for their local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.  National Pancake Day began in the United States in 2006, and to date has raised more than $30 million for children’s health.  National Pancake Day is now also celebrated day and date in Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico.

“This year IHOP is celebrating our 50^th year in Canada, and we are proud to once again give back to the communities by using what IHOP is most famous for—our buttermilk pancakes—to raise money for the health and well-being of children in their neighbourhoods” said Steve Joyce, President, International and CEO Dine Brands Global, the parent company of IHOP.  “Over the past five years, thanks to the generosity of our guests and our franchisees, we have raised more than $275,000 for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and we’re looking forward to a sixth record-breaking year in donations.”

Guests may also help support the efforts of Children’s Miracle Network by purchasing a wall icon in increments of $1, $5, $20 or $100 between now and March 12, 2019 to show support. Guests who purchase a $5 wall icon will receive a $5 coupon good for a future purchase of $10 or more (valid at participating restaurants only).**

“Every year, we have seen the donations from National Pancake Day climb.  It has become a Canadian institution, a way to enjoy free pancakes and raise funds for our member hospitals to continue the critical work they do for children’s health in their communities” said Mark Hierlihy, President and CEO of Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations (Children’s Miracle Network in Canada).

“We are so grateful to our Canadian guests who have embraced our brand for 50 years, and who come together on National Pancake Day to demonstrate their commitment to helping us support children’s health in their communities,” said William Urrego, IHOP’s vice president and general manager, the Americas.  “It’s because of them and the passion our franchisees and their teams have to giving back that we have broken our previous fundraising goals every year since we began, and I am confident we will continue to do so again.”

* Limit one offer per guest. One free short stack of Buttermilk Pancakes on – from 7 am – 7 pm: participating restaurants and hours may vary.  Check with your local IHOP restaurant for details. Dine-in only.

** Issuance and redemption of coupons at participating restaurants only. Redemption expires Sunday March 31, 2019 unless otherwise stated.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, LLC

For 60 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all things breakfast, any time of day. The chain offers 65 different signature, fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items as well as meals under 600 calories. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of December 31, 2018  there are 1,831 IHOP restaurants around the world, including restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam as well as Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Thailand and India.  IHOP restaurants are franchised by affiliates of Glendale, Calif.-based Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).

About Children’s Miracle Network:

Children’s Miracle Network® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and research. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.ca and http://www.facebook.com/childrensmiraclenetworkcanada

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the effect of general economic conditions; the Company’s indebtedness; risk of future impairment charges; trading volatility and the price of the Company’s common stock; the Company’s results in any given period differing from guidance provided to the public; the highly competitive nature of the restaurant business; the Company’s business strategy failing to achieve anticipated results; risks associated with the restaurant industry; risks associated with locations of current and future restaurants; rising costs for food commodities and utilities; shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of food; ineffective marketing and guest relationship initiatives and use of social media; changing health or dietary preferences; our engagement in business in foreign markets; harm to our brands’ reputation; litigation; fourth-party claims with respect to intellectual property assets; environmental liability; liability relating to employees; failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations; failure to effectively implement restaurant development plans; our dependence upon our franchisees; concentration of Applebee’s franchised restaurants in a limited number of franchisees; credit risk from IHOP franchisees operating under our previous business model; termination or non-renewal of franchise agreements; franchisees breaching their franchise agreements; insolvency proceedings involving franchisees; changes in the number and quality of franchisees; inability of franchisees to fund capital expenditures; heavy dependence on information technology; the occurrence of cyber incidents or a deficiency in our cybersecurity; failure to execute on a business continuity plan; inability to attract and retain talented employees; risks associated with retail brand initiatives; failure of our internal controls; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

Media release and images provided by Norely Gonzalez, Wills Communications, Inc.