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Late KDKA Employee Remembered Through Family's Support Of Turkey Fund

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- No one fought harder for the KDKA-TV Turkey Fund than our late friend and colleague, Yvonne Zanos.

Since her death in 2010, her daughters and granddaughters have taken up the cause, in her honor.

Two years ago, at Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Lebanon, a PTA-sponsored bake sale was joined by Yvonne's daughter, Nikki Conaway, and granddaughters, Nora and Tessa. Nikki said they were carrying out her mother's legacy.

"We miss her presence every day, but we try to do things like this to keep her spirit alive," she said.

Lincoln School has raised $21,000 in the past five years.

Another of Yvonne's granddaughters once attended the United Methodist Church Nursery School in Bethel Park. And this year, those youngsters have added their contributions to the turkey fund.

Nursery School director Nancy Osman says the pre-schoolers raised more than $1,500, including a match from PNC Bank. They were given paper "feathers" to place on the image of a turkey in the hall.

"It was more important for the children to learn the lesson of giving than the monetary amount," the director says. "And the children received a 'feather' when they came in with their donation, and put it on our turkey board."

Adona Kane and her daughter Lily, who is now in the sixth grade, appreciate the efforts of children too young to remember their mother and grandmother.

"My mother would be so touched that all her work inspires people to give," Adona says. "She really would be."

Her daughter, Yvonne's granddaughter, agrees.

"It makes me really happy to know that they remember that she was my grandma," Lily says. "And it just makes me really happy."

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