Friends of the Flock

Friends of the Flock is a group comprised of young professionals, emerging leaders, and philanthropists with diverse careers and backgrounds who are dedicated to supporting the National Aviary’s mission: to inspire respect for nature through an appreciation of birds.

Friends of the Flock 21+ Champagne Brunch

Sunday, April 21 | 11 am
Pricing: Before April 5: $68; After April 5: $78 per person
In The Garden Room at the National Aviary

Join the National Aviary’s Friends of the Flock for their exclusive annual fundraiser, a 21+ Champagne Brunch Presented by 535media. Click here for more information!

Reserve Brunch Tickets

Want to Join Our Flock?

The National Aviary currently has a limited number of openings for our Friends of the Flock Committee. Interested? Please fill out the form below!

Candidate Profile Form
Flock of flamingos with wings outstretched in the Wetlands

Flock Goals and Benefits

Young Professional Development and Community-Building Opportunities Include:

  • Exclusive professional development and potential executive experience through their service, including:
    • Fundraising
    • Event planning
    • Advocacy
    • Community engagement
  • Exclusive networking and visiting opportunities with other young professionals, as well as fellow Aviary enthusiasts.
  • Insider access to our programs, projects, and research, as well as the opportunity to connect with our talented and passionate staff.
  • Acting as a focus group to help the National Aviary best meet our demographic needs. The goal is to represent the cultural diversity of the Aviary’s service area so that we may better reach underserved communities.

Flock Expectations

  • A two-year commitment.
  • Meeting one hour every six weeks (for most of the year) with our Senior Director of Strategic Development to discuss National Aviary fundraising and friend-raising priorities.

Fundraising

  • As Flock participants, you will be asked to become a National Aviary Individual ($75), Dual ($90), or Family ($115) Member.
  • You are also responsible for creating additional revenue for the National Aviary. This can be achieved directly or through fundraising events and corporate support. Each Flock participant’s annual goal is to raise $500 toward the Aviary’s operating and capital needs.

Friend-raising

  • You will be National Aviary ambassadors, increasing public awareness and promoting our mission.
  • The Flock strives to connect new audiences with the Aviary, especially peers and other young professionals.
  • You will also participate in recruitment events.
Toco Tucan perched on a branch
A Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth hanging upside down on a branch

Flock Leadership

The Flock is led by a Chair who provides quarterly updates to the Senior Director of Strategic Development. They lead the Friends of the Flock group and serve as an honorary National Aviary Board of Trustees Member.

Current Friends of the Flock Members:

  • Chair: Christine Dombroski, Retail Advertising Manager
    Trib Total Media
  • Vice Chair: Diana Kobus, Director, PA CHIP Program
    Highmark, Inc.
  • Secretary: Mary Kellam, Regulatory Performance Specialist
    Highmark, Inc.
  • Vicki Bach, Senior Risk Partner/Compliance Officer
    Highmark, Inc.
  • Anthony DeStefano, General Manager
    535Media
  • Rachel Stasny Frank, Senior Manager for Audit & Assurance Business Development
    Deloitte
  • Jim Garrity, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs
    AAA Central East
  • Aaron Horsfield, Director, Print and Fulfillment Operations & Marketing Administration
    UPMC Health Plan
  • Christy Kobus, Senior Vice President and Fiduciary Manager
    PNC Private Bank
  • Justin Pulasky, Client Executive
    Microsoft Corporation
  • Sean Stevenson, Client Service Associate
    Confluence Financial Partners

Membership in Friends of the Flock:

Interested in joining our Flock? The Flock Nominating Committee submits young professional nominations to the National Aviary’s Executive Director and our Director of Philanthropy for review on a rolling basis. If you want to join, please:

Contact Us

For more information, contact Connie George at Connie.George@aviary.org or call 412-912-6815.

In The News

See All News

Two Eurasian Eagle-Owl Chicks Hatch at National Aviary | National Aviary

A Eurasian Eagle-Owl, one of the largest owl species in the world, has hatched at the National Aviary.

Read More »

Pittsburgh’s National Aviary welcomes a new male Andean Condor | 90.5 WESA

The National Aviary publicly welcomed a new, male Andean Condor named Bud to Pittsburgh this week.

Read More »

Meet Bud: National Aviary announces arrival of new Andean condor | WTAE

The National Aviary announced the arrival of one of its newest residents Thursday.

Read More »

Valentine’s Day Lovebirds: National Aviary celebrates dove hatching, bird couples | Yahoo! News

This Valentine’s Day, love is in the air, right alongside the birds at the National Aviary.

Read More »