Chelsea Ingram of Cary, Miss Garner 2009 and this year’s recipient of the Miss America/Children’s Miracle Network Award for the state of NC continues to help raise funds for Duke’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. In cooperation with IHOP restaurant at Beaver Creek Commons more funds were raised at their annual “Free Pancake for CMN” than last year. An annual corporate event, IHOP restaurants across the US set aside a day to give a “free stack” of pancakes to all customers, and in turn hope they will open their hearts and pockets and give generously to this wonderful cause. The Miss America Scholarship Organization partners with IHOP with support for their national platform.

“We felt so honored to have the NC Miracle Maker Award Recipient, Chelsea Ingram, helping us raise funds at our Apex location” said Gerard Campbell, General Manager of IHOP of Beaver Creek. “We displayed her portrait and appearance times for a week leading up to our pancake day and so many folks came in to meet Chelsea. We almost doubled our donation amount from last year and having her here certainly helped remind our customers to donate as they were leaving. We even had little girls come in dressed as princesses wanting a picture with her,” Campbell added. “We look forward to having her back next year, and we are rooting for her in her quest to return to the Miss N.C. stage”. Ingram will be competing for the title of Miss Raleigh on Mar. 6.

As a Miss America Ambassador for the network, Ingram supports the CMN platform, which is the Miss America program’s official national platform. CMN is a nonprofit that raises funds for hospitals that treat sick and injured children. Donations fund medical research and care to save and improve children’s lives. Funds raised in North Carolina remain in our state and proceeds go to N.C. Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Ingram has been a four year volunteer for the CMN hospitals in NC; Duke Medical Center and Brody School of Medicine in Greenville and has frequently visited the hospital and worked their telethons and phone-a-thons.

Ingram is a two time winner of this special award. To date than $10,000 for this worthy cause, more than any other woman competing for the title of Miss NC. This year she was recognized by the Miss America Organization for her exemplary volunteerism, hard work and fundraising efforts for CMN and her personal platform, The American Heart Association. “I am passionate about both” Ingram said. “Many children with cardiovascular related illnesses are treated in our CMN hospitals.” Heart disease is prevalent on both her maternal and paternal sides of her family and is the number one killer in America. It is her quest to educate and bring attention to both causes.

In 2009, IHOP raised more than $1.5 million for Children's Miracle Network hospitals and other local charities throughout the country. This year, they hope to raise $1.75 million with a goal to reach a cumulative $5 million in funds raised in the first five years of celebrating National Pancake Day.

“Just being a small part of the celebration and helping make miracles for the over 17 million children that visit Children's Miracle Network hospitals each year is such an honor,” Ingram said.

To make a donation to CMN in Chelsea’s name or to find out more about Ingram’s initiative with CMN, visit www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=153977A8192F04EF1.

“If everyone could meet just one of the brave CMN children, they would volunteer for life; I know that I am a volunteer for life” Ingram said. “I am so inspired by the courageous fighters in each hospital and each has touched my heart in a special way. They have taught me that one person can make a difference!” Her favorite quote is by race car driver Jeff Burton, also a CMN volunteer: “It’s all about being a small part of something that is the right thing to do.”