Archive for the ‘Community Involvement’ Category

Bringing Holiday Joy by Donating Toys

Thursday, December 7th, 2017

Employees are helping give the gift of Christmas to children less fortunate through this year’s Egan Company Toy Drive. With a goal of 1,200 toys in mind, employees dropped off their donations at Egan’s Christmas Party on December 6.

Attending the event on behalf of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation were two representatives who greeted employees and accepted the toy donations. Additionally, Egan employees will be featured on KARE 11 on December 7 to announce the grand total of 1,311 toys that will be given to children in our local community.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s goal is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. Thanks to Toys for Tots for providing for those in need.

Project HEAT’S ON

Friday, November 17th, 2017

The coldest months of the year are just around the corner and this means one thing if you’re a homeowner — turn on the heat!

Paul DeRosier, Egan Pipefitter Field Leader, and Trent Froberg, Egan Pipefitter Apprentice, donated their time and expertise to do just that through Project HEAT’S ON. This fall, DeRosier and Froberg volunteered to ensure a local homeowners house was safe and more energy efficient for the winter months.

Project HEAT’S ON was started in 1986 by the Minnesota Pipe Trades Association to service and repair furnaces of the elderly, disabled, and low-income homeowners. Each year, hundreds of pipefitters from 11 different unions statewide come together to participate and give back to the surrounding communities.

 

Partnering With What Matters

Monday, August 28th, 2017

Packing good food… fast! Our partnership with the nonprofit organization Matter had Egan employees going head-to-head in a friendly competition to beat hunger. Egan volunteers were split into eight teams each was determined to pack the most boxes of food over the two hour period.

To keep things interesting, teams had to abide by the ever-changing packing tactics like using only one hand or standing on one foot. The Blue Team took home the win for most boxes packed, while the White Team won the “Spirit Award”. However, the most important victory of the day came from the 4,113 GoFuel packs of food that filled the boxes for local children in need.

Matter is a nonprofit on a mission to expand access to healthy food in our community. The concept behind the MATTERbox is simple: a box of healthy, shelf-stable meals and nutrition education, helping children of all ages take their first steps towards a healthier life. Thank you Matter for driving such a great call to action!

Give a little, Lift a lot

Friday, June 9th, 2017

“Convenient, more comfortable, and so cool,” –words Patti Franz, Stable Pathways Director, uses to describe the new scissor lift donated by the Fridley Lions Club and Egan Company. Stable Pathways is a nonprofit program providing horse-assisted activities for people living with physical and cognitive challenges.

Operating out of Oak Haven Farm in Oak Grove, Minn., Stable Pathways is home to six therapeutic equines – including three horses and three big ponies, and a small staff made up of mostly volunteers. Since opening its doors in 2009, Stable Pathways has grown from three clients to now roughly 40-60 clients.

Due to this growth and varying needs of its clientele, it became evident that a more systematic way to mount and dismount from the horses was necessary to help limited-mobility riders. Prior to this lift, volunteers were manually lifting these riders on and off the horses – a process Franz says was “awkward and taxing” for all parties involved.

In order to help raise money to purchase a custom-made, push-button controlled lift, Stable Pathways began the “Lift Us Up” campaign. To help their efforts, the Fridley Lions Club gave a partial donation to the nonprofit in 2016; then in March 2017, the fundraising efforts came to full fruition when the Lions Club completed their sizable donation allowing Stable Pathways to move ahead with their purchase.

To help construct this 4×7 square-foot platform, Egan donated the required materials and permit to install it at Oak Haven Farm. Don Fehringer, Egan Company Electrical Journeyman and dedicated volunteer for six years at Stable Pathways, provided the labor to do the disconnect and power feed for the lift. All of the construction finished in early May and was ready for riders and volunteers (and horses!), to begin instructional training by the end of spring 2017.

“Egan’s and Don’s sponsorship of the permit and materials has been tremendous for us,” said Patti. “We wouldn’t have this [lift] otherwise. It is great for our staff, the horses, and every client that rides at Stable Pathways.”

Providing Hope for the Rochester Community

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

Rochester Ronald McDonald HouseSince 1980, The Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, Minn. has provided a home-away-from home and support for families seeking medical care for their children. Each night, the House is able to host 42 families.

Recently, the House received more than 150 toys generously donated by our Southern Minnesota team.

The difference that Ronald McDonald House makes in people’s lives every day is truly remarkable. Our hope is that the toys allow kids to be kids while staying at the House.

There’s a Reason Toy Rhymes with Joy

Saturday, December 17th, 2016

Egan employees helped spread holiday cheer during this year’s Egan Company Toy Drive! Employees set the goal of donating 1,000 toys to children in need in the communities we work and live in, and dropped off toys during the Egan Company Christmas Party on December 15.

Two representatives from the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation attended our event and accepted donations. On December 16, Egan representatives had the opportunity to share our impact on KARE 11, announcing that we had donated a grand total of 1,200 toys, ensuring many children in our community will receive presents this Christmas. Watch the clip here!

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s goal is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. Thanks to Toys for Tots for providing for those in need.

Permanent Lighting at Minneapolis Holidazzle

Thursday, December 1st, 2016

Minneapolis HolidazzleThe annual Minneapolis Holidazzle at Loring Park is lit up and ready for visitors! The vendor tents are kept warm with the installation of Egan’ temporary gas piping. And, in preparation for large community events, like this year’s Holidazzle and Super Bowl LII in 2018, Egan installed permanent power to the area.

Permanent power saves energy and eliminates reliance on generators. Visitors to the area will have the opportunity to enjoy the skating rink all winter instead of just the holiday season.

We’ve also joined forces with local union IBEW 292 and the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council to light up each vendor booth. Egan donated the power distribution equipment, and IBEW 292 installed the equipment to ensure every vendor was given power and every visitor enjoys a well-lit event.

Taking a Ride with BPPD

Wednesday, November 30th, 2016

Earlier this year, Egan hosted a Brooklyn Park Police Department (BPPD) K-9 Fundraiser to raise funds for stab- and bullet-resistant vests. Two lucky winners, Jason Lindula, Egan Company Safety Coordinator, and Gary Setala, Egan Company Account Executive, won a ride-along with BPPD Officers Tom/Kilo and Jason/Bongo. Read about Jason and Gary’s firsthand account of their nights:

Jason’s Ride-Along

Jason’s ride-along was on Saturday, November 12. He was out with Officers Tom and Kilo from 6:45pm-2:15am.

We were dispatched to a “suspected” drunk driving related crash where the driver was not wearing a seat belt and hit the wind shield, luckily he was not ejected and was out of the car talking to another cop by the time we got on the scene. There were also several noise complaints that we dealt with that lead to some interesting conversations for the cops.

There were times where I was nervous when we were in apartments and they were talking to some people who may or may not have been under the influence and were becoming agitated. We also had the lights and sirens on driving at a high rate of speed. It was interesting to see how some people are oblivious to a cop approaching them from behind.

Gary’s Ride-Along

Gary’s ride-along was this past Friday, November 18. He was out with Officers Jason and Bongo from 6:30pm-2:30am.

The first call of the night was an armed robbery for pharmaceutical drugs at a local drug store. We left the police station at a high rate of speed with lights and sirens. Bongo was out trying to track the robber, but due to the wind and cold, the scent was not present. The robber disappeared into the neighborhood.

The second call was a mother and mother in-law domestic dispute. Evacuating the mother in-law and others from the home resolved the issue.

The third call was to support Corcoran Police with a vehicle drug stop. Bongo provided sniffing support for searching the vehicle for drugs. Again wind and cold hampered the search, but drugs were found.

Another call assisted a concerned neighbor of an elderly women. She went to bed without turning lights off, bringing her dog in, or closing the patio door. Several officers prepared for the worst when entering the condominium. The lady was found alive and upstairs sleeping.

Also, we then took the time to bring a young man watching a construction site in his vehicle a cup of coffee. Jason had met him a few nights earlier on patrol thinking he might be a bad guy. Needless to say it was a great gesture by Jason Buck.

Donating Food for Local Families in Need

Monday, November 21st, 2016

When we set goals, we not only meet them, but exceed them! Egan employees in both the Twin Cities and Southern Minnesota offices banded together during our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to exceed our goal of donating five barrels of food with a total of eight overflowing barrels of food for local families in need.

Partnering with the Twin Cities based Community Emergency Assistant Programs (CEAP), and the Southern Minnesota based Channel One Regional Food Bank and The Salvation Army in Austin, employees donated non-perishable items so families in our community can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

CEAP is a Brooklyn Park-based nonprofit dedicated to helping families gain financial stability and maximize their ability to live independently. Channel One Regional Food Bank is nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping feed people in need in Rochester, MN. The Salvation Army in Austin is a local center of the national Salvation Army that operates across the United States. Their mission  is to feed, to clothe, to comfort, to care. Thank you to CEAP, Channel One Regional Food Bank, and the Salvation Army for providing food and comfort for those in need this holiday week.

New Community Partnership

Saturday, October 15th, 2016

DSC_0333_editFrom the very first day Egan & Sons opened their doors, Egan Company has been dedicated to actively supporting causes and local organizations that help those in need. This value is driven from all areas of the company, and continually brings employees together to reach local families in need of our support.

This summer, Egan formed an exciting new partnership with the Brooklyn Park Police Department (BPPD). Employees came together and raised $5,000 to buy K-9 officers, Kilo and Bongo, stab- and bullet-resistant vests.

“We have been beyond impressed with Egan’s quick action to get the employee giving campaign rolling and get money raised for the K-9’s vests,” said BPPD Officer Tom Dunnwald. “Without Egan’s help, it would have taken a very long time to raise the funds needed and the dogs would be working the streets unprotected.”

These custom-made vests will protect Kilo and Bongo for the next several years on the force, and ensure their safety as they work to protect the community where we work and live.

We see the need in our backyard and beyond, and are dedicated to help in any way possible – as employees and individuals – for many years to come.