Feeding Kingston’s Future: The Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund
In 1979, a charismatic couple named Zal Yanovsky and Rose Richardson opened the doors to Chez Piggy Restaurant & Bar in Kingston. Little did they know that their venture would not only redefine Kingston’s food scene but also leave a lasting legacy of generosity and community support. The Yanovskys transformed a dilapidated limestone livery stable into the romantic and iconic establishment that Chez Piggy is today, pioneering a revitalization of Kingston’s downtown.
While the city now boasts a thriving food culture, in 1979, it was a far cry from what it is today. Rose, Zal, and their restaurant, affectionately known as “The Pig,” played a pivotal role in shaping Kingston’s culinary landscape. For the past 45 years, they’ve been a culinary institution, serving countless guests and becoming an integral part of the Kingston community.
However, Rose and Zal’s legacy extended far beyond fine dining. Their passion for food and love for sharing it with friends naturally led them to a higher purpose. They recognized a need in their community: children going to school hungry, unable to focus or learn effectively due to empty stomachs. As people deeply involved in the business of food, they knew they had to do something.
In 2004, a group of friends, colleagues, and loyal patrons of Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho, another Princess Street landmark the couple opened, launched “The Zal School Breakfast Fund”, an endowment fund held by CFKA. The fund aimed to provide nutritious breakfasts to children in Kingston and the surrounding area by granting to The Food Sharing Project.
Tragically, Zal Yanovsky passed away suddenly in 2002, leaving behind his anchor and soulmate, Rose. Rose was passionate about ensuring that kids in schools had access to nutritious meals, recognizing that it was a fundamental step in their learning journey. With the support of dedicated friends and the community, she ensured that Zal’s vision lived on.
The Yanovsky Breakfast Fund became a cherished tradition, with annual festive breakfast events hosted by Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho to raise additional funds. The Kingston community came together, enjoying delicious meals and leaving generous donations to support the cause. Over the years, the fund has continued to grow, thanks to investments and the community’s unwavering commitment.
What sets the Yanovsky Breakfast Fund apart is that it’s an endowment fund. Unlike traditional fundraising efforts, where the money raised is quickly spent, endowment funds endure and grow over time. This means that the legacy of Rose’and Zal, their love for food, and their dedication to feeding hungry children will live on indefinitely.
From its humble beginnings with a nest egg of $20,000, the Yanovsky Breakfast Fund has flourished to over $400,000 thanks to ongoing donationns and prudent investment by CFKA. However, Zal’s daughter, Zoe, wishes that more people knew about the Community Foundation and the concept of endowment funds. It’s a brilliant idea, ensuring that you don’t have to start from scratch with each fundraiser. Instead, you build on what you’ve already achieved, growing it year after year.
The Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund is a testament to the power of community and the enduring legacy of a couple who believed in giving back. For Rose and Zal, food was everything, and they found a meaningful way to share their love for food with the children of Kingston.
As Zoe Yanovsky aptly puts it, “This is a true blue community organization. We happen to be involved in feeding people because that’s what we do and what we’re good at. And what better way for Rose’n Zal to give than to feed children in school. Food was everything for them.”