When Dan Donnelly was asked by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center to be the honoree at our Jonathan Krevat Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic in 2017, he took on the challenge with gusto. As with everything that he commits to in his life, Donnelly got involved in a big way!
With a spirit of generosity, creativity and fun, Donnelly gave his all to planning the day, coming up with new and creative ways to make the event more exciting and successful than ever. His flair for sales and marketing—along with his penchant for playfulness—was in full swing as he helped design our print materials, which featured him and the golf co-chairs dressed in 1920s golf attire. And his competitive nature led him to establish a friendly rivalry by putting together teams to represent four local towns.
Jeff Krevat, who created our golf fundraiser in honor of his brother, has known Donnelly for over 40 years. “Dan was and still is smart, driven and extremely personable,” says Krevat. “I knew when I first met him that he would become incredibly successful in all of his endeavors.”
Indeed, Donnelly’s dedication to being at the top of his game started at a very young age. Taking inspiration from his hard-working parents, he got his first job at 12. “My father’s rule was at 7 a.m. you had to get your feet on the floor,” says Donnelly. “He encouraged us to work. My first job was as a newspaper boy, and I loved it! It made me realize early on the power of working and saving.”
Many years later, his success continued when he founded Donnelly Mechanical in 1989. As Chief Executive Officer, Donnelly led the strategic vision of the company. Today, he owns and operates five companies. But his many interests extend to a variety of areas, including life coaching and philanthropy.
“I love watching talent grow,” says Donnelly. “I’m fascinated by seeing the gleam in a young entrepreneur’s eye when they connect the dots and achieve their goals.”
Paul Vitale, a member of the Guidance Center’s Board of Directors who used to play against Donnelly in a softball league, says his friend’s commitment to helping others is one of his defining characteristics. “As competitive as Dan was on the softball field, he was even more generous to the Garden City community,” says Vitale. “When I asked him to support the Guidance Center he was all in because he recognized the great work that the Guidance Center does, and he also recognized the value of the time and counsel that so many of us do to support the organization.”
A Key to Success
When Donnelly isn’t engaged in life coaching or philanthropic work, you can find him on his meditation cushion. “Meditation is the rock upon which I define my life,” he says. “Ninety percent of my success has come from being quiet in a room and meditating each day. It has enabled me to be present to everything around me.”
Donnelly, who is the devoted father of two and proud grandfather to Ronen, 2, and Claire, 6 months, says that the work the Guidance Center does for children on Long Island is what motivates him to be such a dedicated supporter. But he also credits his admiration for the staff. “The people you have working there are such caring souls,” he says. “Life is about people and connecting. The relationships that I have with the Guidance Center staff and support team are one of the reasons why I stay involved.”
