In 2008, he surprised many with his public endorsement of [[Barack Obama]] for president. The family had traditionally been very private on politics, even being rumored to have a Republican bent. Rooney responded to his public endorsement with: "When I think of Barack Obama's America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_562310.html |title=Dan Rooney endorses Sen. Barack Obama (open letter) |last=Rooney |first=Dan |date=April 14, 2008 |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |access-date=2009-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205132219/http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_562310.html |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref>
Rooney was the benefactor of the [[Rooney Prize for Irish Literature]] and vice-chairman of [[The American Ireland Fund]]. He was also a founding chairman of [[The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania]].<ref>[http://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/about-mpswpa.aspx "About The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727152950/http://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/about-mpswpa.aspx |date=July 27, 2009 }} Retrieved June 18, 2009.</ref> He was named to the [[PoliticsPA]] list of most influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.<ref name=power>{{cite web | title = Sy Snyder's Power 50 | work = [[PoliticsPA]] | publisher = The Publius Group | year = 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020421165540/http://www.politicspa.com/features/power50.htm | url = http://www.politicspa.com/features/power50.htm | archive-date = April 21, 2002 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2008, Rooney became an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Steelers Notebook: Rooney honored for work for peace|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08215/901426-66.stm|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=August 2, 2008|access-date=2008-08-02}}</ref> He won the 2009 ''Jack Horrigan Memorial Award'', presented by the [[Pro Football Writers Association]] to honor a league or club official "for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballwriters.org/off-field-awards/pfwa-jack-horrigan-award/ |title=Jack Horrigan Award |website=profootballwriters.org |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209015234/http://www.profootballwriters.org/off-field-awards/pfwa-jack-horrigan-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was recognized in 2016 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Jackie Robinson Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/03/07/steelers-chairman-dan-rooney-to-be-honored-by-jackie-robinson-foundation/ |title=Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to be honored by Jackie Robinson Foundation |first=Curt |last=Popejoy |website=steelerswire.usatoday.com |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>
