Lanes For Friendship
HFC's biggest fundraising event of the year!
Come rock and bowl with HFC!
Saturday, November 4, 2023.
What: HFC's Bowling Fundraiser. 38 lanes of fun, friendship and fundraising.
When: Saturday November 4 from 10am - 1:00pm
Who? This event is open to those who sponsor one of the 38 available lanes. Minnesota Twins great Joe Mauer #7 will also be there, along with HFC members and other special guests.
How it works: Sponsor a Lane with donation levels starting at $1,500 and up, to secure lanes for your work colleagues, friends and family. Note to businesses: Lanes for Friendship is a perfect opportunity for your company's team building and give back event. To learn more about sponsorships contact Patty Dunn ED, pattyd@highlandfriendshipclub 651-239-8906 or Don Leseman, Lanes volunteer, donleseman@comcast.netWhere: Bowlero Lakeville (about 30 minutes from metro area)
What else? Lunch included, meet and bowl with HFC member, chance to take home an amazing gift basket and much more!
Check out the video below from 2022 to get a taste of the Lanes experience!
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Be A Friend Luncheon.
A cherished HFC spring tradition, Be A Friend fundraiser luncheon, was back in person on Tuesday April 25, 2023. It was a wonderful time together. Be A Friend is all about introducing new people to Highland Friendship Club while connecting with current member families and supporters.
Over 100 guests got a chance to reconnect and learn a bit more about HFC. Thanks to the support of HFC's wonderful donors, we met the goal of raising $20,000, which was matched by a generous donation from Joe and Maddie Mauer, in addition to a second match of $20,000 from FS Foundation!
HFC is especially grateful to Degidio's for donating its space along with a delicious Italian buffet!
We also want to thank Cathy Flanagan for sharing their family's HFC story regarding son Denner, HFC member Tanya Hagen for co-emceeing with Patty Dunn ED, and to Joe Mauer, Dick Engler and Mary Schiltgen for speaking to their reasons for supporting HFC.
With all thanks to Julie Johnson for volunteering as photographer, here's a few photos of the day.
2022 Lanes for Friendship!
HFC's biggest fundraiser of the year, Lanes for Friendship, was Saturday November 5.
The adaptive bowling fundraiser was at Bowlero in Lakeville.
We had so much fun at our 2022 Lanes for Friendship. Nearly 50 HFC members and their families enjoyed a meet-and-greet with Joe Mauer, bowling, and friends!
Thank you to our sponsors and special guests, who made this event even more wonderful. We exceeded our fundraising goal, bringing in over $77,000 thanks to our many sponsors, including Michael Corrigan, The Advocate Group, SPIRE Credit Union, The Conley Family, TruStone Financial and many more. Thank you to all who joined us.
All thanks to volunteers John Dunn, videographer, and Julie Johnson, photographer, for this terrific video capturing the day.
Group photo with the UofM Baseball team and Head Coach John Anderson, Joe Mauer #7, and HFC members.
Thank you Conley Family!
Thank you Mike Corrigan and The Advocate Group!
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The Really Big Game!
The Really Big Game, held August 3 2022 at Ford Little League Fields in St Paul, was really big fun and a fitting grand finale for Kathy and Jerry Czech who have organized this event for 10 years. Highland Friendship Club is extremely grateful. A Really Big Thank You to Jerry and Kathy.
Check out the video highlights, with thanks to Julie Johnson, volunteer photographer, and John Dunn, volunteer video creator.
Thank you Jerry and Kathy!
With HFC founders Rose Fagrelius and Pat Leseman
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Highland Friendship Club's 20th Year Celebration was held May 17!
Twenty years ago, two St. Paul Moms, Pat Leseman and Rose Fagrelius, created HFC to provide more opportunities for teens and adults with disabilities to make friends, learn, and connect.
Today, HFC thrives with about 30 classes per week for it's 250 members and their families, caregivers, guardians.
On May 17, 2022 about 200 members, volunteers, board and committee members, staff, donors, families, vendors, grantors, other nonprofits and the larger community gathered at Summit Brewing to commemorate 20 years of HFC.
See below for a short fun video of the celebration.
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Thank you for making HFC's 15th Annual Lanes for Friendship 2021 a success raising over $50,000!
Find out Joe Mauer's nickname in one of the 3 videos Joe did for the fundraiser!
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Below is a snapshot of HFC's recurring annual events
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Be A Friend Luncheon
HFC hosts the Be A Friend Luncheon annually in the spring to enlist the help of local community members to support HFC programs. With the help of DeGidio’s Restaurant and Bar, HFC Table Captains invite their families and friends to experience what the organization is all about while HFC members, staff and Board members share their passion for HFC. Over a delicious lunch, the HFC community grows as new volunteers and donors join in!
Community Picnic-Sunday
During the summer, the entire community is invited to come together in Highland Park for a fun day of celebrating the Highland Friendship Club community. This is a celebration of HFC members, parents, caregivers, volunteers, staff and more! The intent is for everyone to come together on a summer day to enjoy one another's company. HFC is truly blessed with a huge community of support... don't miss your chance to join us for this free event!
The Really Big Game - Come Cheer Us On!
Each year, HFC members play under the big lights at the Highland Little League Fields. The Really Big Game is just that: a huge game of baseball where uniformed HFC members, coached by volunteers, play ball against one another while the crowd roars! The St. Paul Saints baseball organization serves as announcers, provides organ music along with their usual high jinks, and plenty of energy.
Lanes for Friendship
Highland Friendship Club's biggest fundraiser of the year, Lanes for Friendship, is one event you don't want to miss! Sponsors of the event get the opportunity to have lunch and bowl with celebrity guest Joe Mauer and other special guests. HFC members enjoy a private Meet and Greet with Joe before bowling. A celebration of fun and friendship.
