Community Involvement at Unity Precision Manufacturing
At Unity Tool (DBA Unity Precision Manufacturing), we are proud to be an integrated part of the local community and committed to having a positive impact in the state of Minnesota.
Live to Give
Live to Give is an annual Minnesota event organized to raise money and awareness for charitable causes that hold meaning to each contestant. Each season, Live to Give contestants each raise money for a charity of their choice, and are incentivized to raise money by earning advantages during the game.
Unity Precision Manufacturing supports this charitable event with a sponsorship and camera work support. Opportunities to get involved are on their site.
Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies
Diane and Emily Van Essen, wife and daughter of Unity Precision Manufacturing’s Mike Van Essen, are two of the original founders and board members of the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve infant health outcomes by ensuring that medically vulnerable babies —in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest—have access to safely pasteurized life-giving human donor milk when mother’s milk is unavailable or in low supply. Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies is a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) affiliated milk bank.
Princeton Speedway
For many years Unity Precision Manufacturing has be an official sponsor of the Princeton Speedway, for Erik Gruhlke’s IMCA Sport Mods race car, #47, out of Zimmerman, Minnesota.
Go Erik!
Pedal the Pacific
In 2019, Unity Precision Manufacturing’s founders Ron and Irene Van Essen sponsored their granddaughter, Christina Van Essen in Pedal the Pacific. The annual 1,700-mile bike ride from Seattle to San Diego raises awareness about the injustices of domestic sex trafficking.
Pedal the Pacific is dedicated to raising up advocates who believe that no voice is too small to make a difference. Funds raised went to support the healing and restoration of survivors at the Refuge Ranch in Austin, Texas.
Stratasys COVID-19 Coalition
As an “Honor Roll” member of the Stratasys COVID-19 Coalition, Unity Precision Manufacturing joined a group of organizations to explore what healthcare providers needed most as they faced a growing number of COVID-19 patients, and assessed what 3D printing would let us produce best. We moved forward to focus on face shields.
Unity Precision Manufacturing was honored to receive a Face Shield Plaque in recognition of our efforts in helping produce face shields for the healthcare heroes serving on the front lines to deliver medical care to those infected with coronavirus. Collectively, the coalition delivered over 100,000 face shields.
Can Do Canines
The Unity team shares a love of dogs. So when opportunity came knocking for us to get involved with Can Do Canines, we happily accepted.
Unity Precision Manufacturing is a proud partner of Can Do Canines. It is the largest non-profit assistance dog training organization in Minnesota. They place specially-trained dogs with people who have disabilities such as Type I Diabetes, mobility challenges, seizure disorders, hearing loss, and childhood autism, free of charge. Our longtime employee Pam Streiff began volunteering with Can Do Canines in 2013 to “do what made her heart happy.” Her enthusiasm for the program was contagious. The Unity team now gladly donates services, parts and labor to support the Can Do Canines cause.
Hennepin Technical College
Unity Precision Manufacturing is proud to partner with Hennepin Technical College. Quality technical education is one of the things that keeps the manufacturing industry alive and at the forefront of technology.
Unity Precision Manufacturing has donated over $100,000 worth of materials for student classes in order to make parts or for class welding projects. Mike Van Essen also serves on the Hennepin Technical College advisory board. In this role, he advises instructors and helps them work through certain program changes by giving insights into the present-day manufacturing industry, as well as the shortfalls, hardships, and demands of the marketplace. Mike’s insights allow the students to enter the manufacturing marketplace more prepared and with a greater understanding.
Rapids Archery Club
Mike Van Essen and several other Unity employees belong to the Rapids Archery Club in Andover, MN, the largest archery club in Minnesota. As dedicated members of the club, the Unity team gladly offers services and labor whenever the club is in need of their help.
Rockford High School
Unity Precision Manufacturing donated equipment and other materials to Rockford High School, as a way to introduce kids to the manufacturing industry.
