We Support Our Community

Jeff and Jane Bulman, owners and operators of three Original Pancake House franchises in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, advocate community support and participation in all three of their restaurants. This tradition of community involvement began with an annual Christmas Breakfast for the Homeless, and now encompasses monthly fundraising drives in which a portion of sales is donated to a variety of local non-profit and charitable organizations. Not only are hundreds of needy members of the community fed on Christmas each year, thousands of dollars are donated to worthwhile local charities. That’s a lot of pancakes!

“I grew up in a philanthropic house,” said Jeff Bulman, “Charity is giving back—you get and you give.” Each year, the Bethesda and Falls Church locations of the Original Pancake House coordinate with local social services agencies to serve a free breakfast to almost 300 invitation-only guests who are homeless or low-income. Close to 150 volunteers have made this an annual holiday ritual, each bringing a new hat, scarf, or pair of gloves as gifts for the guests in addition to pitching in to cook, serve and clean up afterwards. Monetary donations are used to provide blankets, toiletries, and clothing. There are even volunteer musicians who serenade the guests with carols.

Over the years, this community spirit has developed into monthly fundraising events for a variety of non-profit and charitable organizations. On the last Thursday of the month, each of the three Original Pancake Houses donates 15% of sales to a designated organization in its neighborhood. Some of the beneficiaries have included Thanksgiving in February and Bread for the City, which provide food for the homeless. Health-related organizations include the Parkinson Foundation, the Carol Jean Cancer Foundation (sending kids with cancer to Camp Friendship), Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and Mobile Medical (providing health care to the uninsured). Educational organizations include the Falls Church Education Foundation, Friends of the Library (Montgomery County), and the Falls Church Library. Community outreach organizations include Bethesda Cares and Community Ministries of Montgomery County.

The Original Pancake House was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1953 by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. There are over 90 franchises from coast to coast, featuring recipes that use only the finest ingredients and a secret recipe for sourdough starter to make their award-winning pancakes. Portland native James Beard was one of the Original Pancake House’s biggest fans. In the Washington, D.C. area, Jeff and Jane Bulman own and operate three Original Pancake House franchises—in Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland, and in Falls Church, Virginia. For further information, please contact Jeff or Jane Bulman in Bethesda at (301) 986-0285 or in Falls Church at (703) 891-0148.
 

 

 

Email customercare@ophrestaurants.com with comments.
All the contents of this website are Copyright © 2006 by Bulman Enterprises and The Original Pancake House Franchises, Inc.
Locate over 90 Original Pancake Houses around the U.S. at www.originalpancakehouse.com.