More than 420 Perkins Restaurant & Bakery locations will join together on Monday, March 21 for a system-wide fundraiser benefiting Give Kids The World.

Give Kids The World is a nonprofit organization that provides week-long vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at a fanciful, “storybook” retreat in Central Florida.

Guests dining at participating restaurants on “Perkins Pancake Day” can enjoy a free short stack of Perkins made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes. In return, guests can consider making a donation to Give Kids The World. 

“What started as a small movement to raise money for Give Kids The World more than 15 years ago has blossomed into a system-wide effort for our restaurants to give back to such an important organization that shares our values and gives families a respite from their challenging circumstances,” says Bob Winters, senior vice president of development for Perkins Restaurant & Bakery.

“Just as families have been making memories over our legendary buttermilk pancakes for more than 50 years, Give Kids The World creates unforgettable memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their very deserving families,” Winters says.

Each year, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery serves more than 200,000 free meals at the 200-seat Gingerbread House Restaurant, located in the heart of the Give Kids The World Village. Over the years, more than 4 million free meals have been served.

In addition to annual fundraising efforts, ongoing activities for Give Kids The World include community-oriented events and specially marked coin boxes for spare change in the lobbies of most Perkins restaurants.

“A week at Give Kids The World Village gives happiness and hope to families of children with life-threatening illnesses,” says Pamela Landwirth, president of Give Kids The World. “For one week, they can spend time together and have fun. Only through the support of generous partners like Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and delicious events like ‘Perkins Pancake Day’ can we continue to provide this amazing gift to families who need it most.”