Posted on 11/7/08

President-elect Obama’s “Yes we can spirit” is alive and well with Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, and Minnesota parent Pat Leseman. Together they’re helping teenagers and young adults with some form of disability. For the second year in a row, Mauer, and several other Minnesota Twins, will appear at a fundraiser for The Highland Friend Club, which serves these folks.

Mauer, who has just received a “Golden Glove” award for his outstanding catching, says appearing at last year’s Friendship Club fundraiser “really touched my heart.” That’s why he is attending this year’s event, December 6, 1- 5 PM at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl in Arden Hills.

Playing major league baseball, and creating the Friendship Club appear to be interconnected dreams for Mauer and Leseman. Mauer told me that he had “always wanted to play major league baseball “ (and that) playing for the Twins “had been a dream for a long time.”

Leseman explained that she and her friend Rosemary Fagrelius each have a son with a disability. In May, 2002, they were sitting in a kitchen when “ we looked at each other and said ‘they go to school, attend church, and…’” The mothers knew that “everyone wants to have friends, be liked, feel safe, and have fun. But these important things can be difficult for some teens with a disability. “

So they began organizing a variety of activities, including exploring music, art, going to movies, sporting events, etc that initially brought together a few Highland area families, but now involve between 150 and 200 youngsters from throughout the Twin Cities area. Club membership is free. Leseman, who now chairs the club’s board, says that while most activities have a modest cost, “fundraising means we can offer scholarships for the events.”

Joe Mauer became involved because of his long friendship with one of Pat Leseman’s sons, Tony. They played baseball, initially against each other on teams from different neighborhoods, and then together on the Cretin Derham high school team. Mauer calls Tony “my best friend in high school, and today.”

Tony responds, “Fame and fortune haven’t changed Joe at all. He’s the same warm, modest guy he was in high school.”

Most parents agree that moving from being a teenager into adulthood and independence can be challenging. As the Friendship Club’s website notes, “For teens and young adults with disabilities, that road can be even rockier and more complicated because of their physical and mental challenges, communications difficulties and need for ongoing support.”

For more information at Highland Friendship Club and its December 6 fund-raiser (which is open to everyone), call 651-698-4096, email Mary McKeown, the club’s director at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or go to the website at www.highlandfriendshipclub.org

President-elect Obama has urged Americans not to rely solely on government to help solve problems. The Highland Friendship Club is a great example of parents and professional athletes who don’t just say, “yes we can. “ They’ve done it.