Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund Surpasses $500,000 Milestone
Zoe Yanovsky, daughter of the late Zal and Rose Yanovsky, and Andy Mills, Food Sharing Project Executive Director
The Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund, supporting The Food Sharing Project in Kingston, ON, has reached a significant milestone by surpassing $500,000 in endowments. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s mission to provide nutritious meals to students across the region.
Origins and Growth
The fund’s inception can be traced back to a poignant moment in Kingston’s history. Brenda Moore, Chair of the Board for The Food Sharing Project, recalls, “It all started with Rose’s question when Zal passed: ‘Who’s feeding kids in this community?’ The Food Sharing Project had just submitted an application to the Community Foundation, and that’s how they chose us.” What began as donations in memory of Zal, and later Rose, quickly expanded to include support from educators and community members who recognized the importance of providing nutritious food at school.
Annual Breakfast Fundraiser
A key component of the fund’s success is the annual Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast fundraiser held at Chez Piggy restaurant and Pan Chancho bakery. This event operates on a donation-only basis, allowing community members to contribute what they can. Brenda Moore describes the atmosphere: “The warmth in those rooms on those two mornings is palpable. For years, it was the only time you could have breakfast at Chez Piggy. The staff donate their time, and they’re restaurant people, not typically morning people.”
The event has become a cherished tradition, bringing together the community in a spirit of generosity. Moore emphasizes, “With Zoe’s leadership, and thanks to the staff, and the patrons, it’s a beautiful thing that people come together on those two days every year to do what they can to support kids.”
Impact and Future Initiatives
The Food Sharing Project has experienced significant growth, now serving all 88 publicly funded schools in the Kingston area. Andy Mills, Executive Director of The Food Sharing Project, notes that weekly food deliveries have nearly doubled since 2019, from $13,000 to over $25,000, reflecting both rising food costs and increased demand.
Looking ahead, the organization is exploring innovative ways to enhance its services, including the possibility of using high school kitchens as food hubs to prepare more substantial meals for distribution to multiple schools.
Community Commitment
Zoe Yanovsky, daughter of the late Zal and Rose Yanovsky, expresses gratitude for the community’s support: “We are grateful to the community for coming together once a year to donate to the fund, and enjoy a delicious breakfast in the process. This year we raised a record breaking $45,347.70!”
“The strength of an endowed fund, such as the Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund, lies in its ability to significantly increase annual grant distributions as it grows through yearly fundraising efforts and our prudent investing of the capital,” explains Stacy Kelly, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “To date, the fund has granted over $175,000 to support the Food Sharing Project, making a substantial impact on addressing food insecurity in our city. As an endowed fund, it will continue to have this positive effect in perpetuity.”
Brenda Moore sums up the enduring impact of this community effort: “That personal commitment from Zoe, which then inspires the commitment from her staff and all the people who attend – that’s the beauty of it. And that’s how we got to half a million dollars.”
This milestone achievement of the Zal and Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund demonstrates the power of community collaboration in addressing food insecurity among students, ensuring that every child in Kingston has the nutrition they need to learn and thrive.