Special Events

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Lanes For Friendship Fundraiser 

On Saturday, November 4, 2023.
 
Great fun with great friends to raise funds for Highland Friendship Club. 
Thank you Julie Johnson for volunteering once again to be HFC's event photographer!
Check out the photo gallery below. 
 
Thank you to The Advocate Group - MVP Sponsors. 
The Conley Family - All-Star Sponsors.
 
TruStone Credit Union - All Star Sponsor. 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SPIRE Credit Union - All Star Sponsor. 
Mauer Auto Sponsor
 Thank you Jennie O for organizing the Red Pin Game and donating Turkeys!
Thank you UofM Gophers Baseball Team and Coach John Anderson for being there again!
Thank you to all the generous Raffle and Online Silent Auction Donors:
Topgolf, Luci Ancora restaurant, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Twins, Lloyds Automotive, Total Wine, Sweet Martha's Cookies, Mall of America, Holiday Inn, Bowlero, Mancini's Char House, Shamrocks/Nook restaurant, Iron Range restaurant, Bark Box, Life Spa, TREATS, Tonos Pizza & Cheesesteak restaurant, Centro restaurant, Olive Grove, Science Museum, Cafe Latte, Haskells, MN Zoo, Stages Theater, Can Can Wonderland, Emagine Theater, SeaQuest, Urban Air, Canes, MN Vikings, Toro, Smash Burger, Target, Thomas Liquor, Wander Leaf Brewing, Surly, Omni Brewing, Comedy Club.
Photographer Julie Johnson's 3 favorites listed below! 
 
Thank you Joe Mauer, Henry Lake and Patty Dunn HFC ED for kicking off the Bowling! 
 
Nikki Knutson selling beautiful HFC member made greeting cards
 
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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. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Highland Friendship Club's 20th Year Celebration was held May 17 2022! 
In 2002, 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 over 30 classes per week for about 200 members and their families, caregivers, guardians.  
On May 17, 2022 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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Below is a snapshot of HFC's recurring annual events
 
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!
 
 
 
The Really Big Game - Come Cheer Us On!
The Really Big Game in August is just that: a huge game of baseball where HFC members, coached by volunteers, play ball against one another while the crowd roars! All welcome. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lanes for Friendship Fundraiser. 
Highland Friendship Club's biggest fundraiser of the year, Lanes for Friendship, is one event in November 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 Q&A with Joe before bowling. A celebration of fun and friendship.   

Kayla

HFC Member

"HFC you’re the best, you rock!
HFC has helped me focus on some of my hobbies... I have met some cool people and great leaders. Some of my favorite programs are Glee Club, Tennis, Friday Night Fun, and cooking class. I love the field trips like the ball games too! And thank you HFC for all the fun times... it means the world to me!"