For the Birds: Feathered Jewels Gala Slated for September 27

PITTSBURGH – June 4, 2008

The Hunt Armory in Shadyside will be the setting for one of the most noted galas of the year. The fourth biennual Feathered Jewels Gala, presented by National City, takes flight September 27, 2008, with proceeds benefiting the National Aviary.

A highlight of the evening will be a breathtaking show featuring birds moving in free-flight among multiple stages. Macaws, vultures, flamingos and birds of prey will demonstrate their natural behaviors, with original music and lighting enhancing a presentation that will give guests a preview of shows planned for the Aviary’s new Avian Immersion Theater, which opens in 2010.

The Gala will include cocktails, seated dinner and dancing, all with a South American theme. The recipients of the Phoenix Philanthropy Award will be named that evening.

“The National Aviary is truly a Pittsburgh treasure, not only for its outstanding collection of rare and endangered birds, but also for its international conservation projects and the educational programming it offers to children and adults,” says Gala Honorary Chair Todd C. Moules, president, Pennsylvania Banking, National City. “We have a wonderful evening planned for our guests, including the chance to mingle with a spectacular array of birds and to catch a sneak peak at the birds that will headline shows at the Aviary’s new theater.”

The Feathered Jewels Gala has become a noted event, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette naming it to its 2002, 2004 and 2006 “Ten Best” events list, and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review naming it to the Fanfare 2002, 2004 and 2006 “Best Of” and “Most Dazzling Dozen” events lists. More than 800 guests attend this biennual event, which has helped to raise more than $1.6 million for the National Aviary over the last six years.

Feathered Jewels Gala
Saturday, September 27, 6:30 pm
Hunt Armory, Shadyside
Tickets: 412.323.7235, x214

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The National Aviary seeks to inspire respect for nature through an appreciation of birds.

About the National Aviary - The National Aviary is America’s only independent, indoor, nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. As an environmental organization composed of educators, conservationists and researchers, the National Aviary aims to inspire, educate and entertain its visitors through quality programming, and to play an active role in meaningful conservation and avian research projects. The National Aviary’s collection encompasses more than 200 species of birds, many of them threatened or critically endangered in the wild. Its large walk-through exhibits offer up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and meet species rarely found in zoos anywhere else in the world.

The National Aviary’s educational programs currently include in-house classes and educational tours as well as outreach presentations to schools. Classes are designed to reach a variety of ages, from pre-K through high school, and include live, interactive bird presentations. In 2007, more than 9,800 children attended classes or tours at the facility, and more than 20,000 were reached through outreach programs.

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