Naperville’s Greg Dellinger loves working at charity events
Sandy Stevens wordsbysandy@gmail.com October 9, 2012 11:12PM
Greg Dellinger often volunteers at charity events as an emcee, a paddle raiser and an auctioneer. | Submitted
Updated: November 11, 2012 6:03AM
Although he works full time as an aviation recruiter, Greg Dellinger often volunteers at charity events as an emcee, a paddle raiser and an auctioneer.
It’s a calling and a hobby, he said, forged by his parents and two other main mentors in his life.
The first was his grandfather, a tool and die maker, who would collect or buy wholesale items ranging from fishing equipment to electrical cords to sell on Saturdays at the former Maxwell Street Market.
“He taught me a work ethic but also the business end,” said Dellinger, 47.
“He really knew his customers. He’d lay out his wares so it’d almost bewitch people; they had to buy it. It was that razzamatazz.
“I would just go and help, but I didn’t realize than that he was really teaching me. He’s really raised me more from the grave,” he said.
Dellinger also credits one of his schoolteachers, a nun.
“She taught me this amazing, giving spirit,” he said. “She taught me that in order to live, you must give.”
Dellinger, known as “G-Man” to those he aids at charitable events, grew up in Chicago’s northern suburbs and received a communications degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
For the past four years, he has served as recruiting director at AAR Corp. of Wood Dale, a company that sells commercial airplane parts, repairs planes, manufactures aviation support products and provides a fleet of aircraft for demanding locations like Afghanistan.
Dellinger acquires talent ranging from corporate personnel to pilots for the company.
Through his business, he also volunteers to speak about career transitions and employment to local people affected by workplace reductions.
Before moving to AAR, Dellinger spent a decade with the Disney Company, where he helped to launch Radio Disney.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for two companies that have very large, giving hearts,” he said.
Dellinger and his wife, the former Michelle Grisby, have lived in Naperville, his wife’s hometown, for 20 years. They are parents of Keller, 17; Quinn, 14; Callie, almost 12; and Kerra, 7.
Callie serves as a volunteer ambassador at Naper Settlement, and the Dellinger family spent last Thanksgiving at Aurora’s Hesed House.
Greg emceed the Bingo games, Michelle and the boys unloaded and prepared food and the girls decorated the dining room.
“It’s teaching them generosity, empathy and, ultimately, money skills in order to be able to contribute,” Dellinger said. “Our young people are watching.”
At a Chicago Children’s Theatre gala on Nov. 11, Dellinger will for the second year help emcee the charity auction. Last year’s event grossed $350,000, he said. He’ll also seek additional contributions during the “Raise the Paddle” part of the program.
“I always have the vision of a friar asking for alms,” he said.
Also, at a recent event at the Naperville Country Club, Dellinger’s talents helped raise funds for college scholarships for Chicago Public Schools children.
“The town has grown, the community has grown, but there’s this amazing, giving spirit in Naperville,” he said.
To contact Dellinger, call 630-227-2074 or email gdellinger@aarcorp.com.
Nominate a volunteer by emailing columnist Sandy Stevens at wordsbysandy@gmail.com
