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.

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
Male Steller's Sea Eagle taking a bath

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 ($99), or Family/Grandparent ($120) 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.

Highlights from the 2024 Friends of the Flock 21+ Champagne Brunch,
The Flock’s signature fundraiser!

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 updates to the Philanthropy department. 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
Duquesne Light Company

Vicki Bach, Senior Risk Partner/Compliance Officer
Highmark, Inc.

Christopher Barthen, Corporate Banking Underwriter
PNC Bank

Jim Garrity, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs
AAA Central East

Aaron Horsfield, Senior Director, Plan Operations
UPMC Health Plan

Johnathan Jackson, Senior Consultant
PNC Bank

Christy Kobus, Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer
PNC Bank

Adam Martinez, Retail Territory Manager
Stanley Black & Decker

Megan Musante, Major Gifts Development Officer
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Justin Pulasky, Account Manager
Palo Alto Networks

Tyler Petit, Senior Advisor
RE/MAX Select Realty

Genevieve Redd, Estate Tax Planning and Litigation Attorney
Leech Tishman Law Firm

Rachel Stasny Frank, Director, Business Development
RSM US LLP

Mike Stevenson, Strategic Risk Advisor
Seubert & Associates, Inc.

Sean Stevenson, Wealth Advisor
Peak Financial Planning

Membership in Friends of the Flock:

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

  • Be willing to serve a two-year term!
  • Complete the Candidate Profile Form and submit a resume to Ted Bartlett, [email protected]g, the National Aviary’s Director of Individual Giving and Government Relations.

Contact Us

For more information, contact Ted Bartlett; [email protected], or call 412-258-9433.

In The News

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Forget the plane. Your tropical vacation can be found in Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Today Live

The National Aviary is bringing the island vibes to Pittsburgh, with music, cocktails, and plenty of birds.

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Nearly extinct species coming back in wild thanks to Pittsburgh aviary | Yahoo News

The National Aviary has two baby Guam Kingfishers, known as sihek in the indigenous CHamoru language. The male Guam kingfisher hatched on April 19, while the female hatched on May 12. On May 27, the male chick took his first flight.

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Nearly extinct species coming back in wild thanks to Pittsburgh aviary | USA Today

With the help of two recently hatched chicks, Pittsburgh's National Aviary has plans to help a bird species that no longer exists in the wild to once again find its way home.

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National Aviary welcomes new chick to Wetlands habitat | WPXI

Aviary officials just announced the hatching of a Roseate Spoonbill chick as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.

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The Bird That Builds Its Own Incubator and Raises Itself (ft. insights from Senior Aviculturist, Brianna Crane) | A-Z Animals

Rather than sitting on their eggs themselves, they rely on external heat sources for incubation.

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