A-List 2009: Daniel (Dan) O'Grady

Who: Daniel (Dan) O’Grady

What: Manager of Community Partnerships and investment at Enbridge

Why he’s on the A-List: Goes above and beyond doling out the more-than-$5 million Enbridge donates every year to get involved with Calgary’s non-profit organizations.

It’s one thing to be nominated for the A-List. It’s quite another to receive five nominations.

As national manager of community partnerships and investment at Enbridge Calgary, Daniel O’Grady oversees a program that contributes millions ($5.4 million in 2006) to charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada, and as such, wields tremendous influence in the non-profit sector. In return, he has garnered tremendous respect and appreciation from those organizations, and not just because he’s the guy holding the purse strings.

“Dan goes above and beyond for the organizations that receive funding from him,” says Donna Leonard, executive director of the Famous 5 Foundation. “Dan forms strong relationships, and many of us who are connected with him consider him a friend.”

Carol Armes, general manager of Theatre Junction Grand, agrees. “Dan has personally helped me by providing guidance and assistance, which played a meaningful part in my early development in my role at Theatre Junction,” she says.

“Throughout the process of securing Enbridge’s sponsorship, Dan was very supportive and helpful to me, as I was new in my role at Theatre Junction and new to securing sponsorships from the corporate sector. He continued to be a supportive colleague throughout our partnership.”

Notwithstanding the sheer amount of money he’s entrusted with distributing, what makes O’Grady remarkable is his ability to choose organizations that are most likely to benefit from each of those dollars, and the patience to help those organizations to flourish, forging the kinds of friendships rarely seen in corporate partnerships.

“It takes three to four years for an organization to show its stuff,” O’Grady says. “We go into each of our partnerships with that understanding. What we are really doing is gifting them with the opportunity to tell their story, so we can in turn capture that information.”

With a goal of increasing its community investment dollars to one percent of total
pre-tax earnings, Enbridge has formed partnerships with such organizations as STARS, Volunteer Calgary, Theatre Junction, Science Alberta Foundation, Alberta Theatre Projects’ annual Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays and others. O’Grady’s impact is felt throughout Calgary.

And though reluctant to gush about Enbridge’s many contributions, or his personal dedication, O’Grady’s nominators showed no such reservations, praising him as an expert strategic thinker, motivator and purveyor of practical advice, encouraging
organizations to think and dream big.

What can you do?
Visit volunteercalgary.ab.ca to see the many volunteer opportunities available throughout the city, including those with Enbridge partners such as Theatre Junction.

Return to the Avenue A-List 2009 Main Page