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 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.
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.
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
Duquesne Light Company - Vicki Bach, Senior Risk Partner/Compliance Officer
Highmark, Inc. - Anthony DeStefano, General Manager
535Media - Rachel Stasny, 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:
- Be willing to serve a two-year term!
- Complete the Candidate Profile Form, and
- Submit a resume to Connie.George@aviary.org, the Aviary’s Senior Director of Strategic Development.
Contact Us
For more information, contact Connie George at Connie.George@aviary.org or call 412-912-6815.