Frahn serves disabled children with Challenger program

Amy Frahn poses with the members of the 2017 Challengers baseball program for disabled children. Photos courtesy of Amy Frahn

Amy Frahn, the first honoree in Menifee 24/7's new "Hometown Heroes" program, is a great example of service to others. We are proud to recognize her for her volunteer work in the community.

Seven years ago, Frahn reactivated a baseball program designed to give disabled children the opportunity to participate in a sport. Since then, she has developed the Menifee Challengers program into an important outlet for physical activity for youth in baseball, football and cheerleading, with basketball in the planning stages.

Frahn lost a young daughter to meningitis 25 years ago. She has looked for opportunities to help disabled children ever since.

"If our daughter had lived, she would've been mentally and physically handicapped," Frahn said. "I knew I wanted to find ways to help children like that."

After Frahn moved to Menifee with her husband Jason in 2001, she learned from John Dreher, president of Menifee Valley Little League, that MVLL had previously had a Challengers program.

"I asked John what happened to the program and he said they had nobody to take it over," Frahn said. "I felt I was being led to start the program up again. I had John's full support. He said, 'Whatever you need, do it.'

"Without the support from John Dreher, I would never have been able to accomplish this. John and my family have supported me every step of the way."

Frahn set out on the difficult task of finding children who could benefit from the program. She asked Menifee Union School District officials about sending fliers to Special Education classes but was told district policy dictated that all students had to receive a flier to publicize such an event.

"I didn't have the money to print that many fliers," Frahn said. "I started going from school to school, standing in front of the school and talking to parents. I went to local meetings. When Facebook got bigger, the word spread."

That first season, the Challenger baseball program had 12 players. Last season, the program included 65. This year, Frahn expects more than 80 players to participate. The program has been expanded to include players from other cities that don't have such a league, including Murrieta, Temecula, Perris, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Wildomar and Canyon Lake.

The program is sanctioned by the national Little League office, which has a policy that no player above the age of 26 can participate. But Frahn spoke to officials at the national office and was told she could accept players of any age, with those over 26 serving as coaches. The oldest participant she has had is 40.


Above right, Amy Frahn walks with A.J., one of the Challenger players, in the Independence Day parade.

"We have players with Down syndrome, autism, those in wheelchairs and walkers, players who are non-verbal where we have to use sign language," Frahn said. "We make sure all the players get up to bat, that they all get a hit and they all get a home run so they can circle the bases."

Volunteer coaches pitch to the players and help them bat and field. Other volunteers, called buddies, help players move around the bases and cheer them on.

"They have a lot of interaction with the buddies," Frahn said. "The buddies are young men and women who grew up playing the game and want to help. They help them get their helmet on and other things. The kids know the buddies love and protect them. If a player hits a ball hard, a buddy moves in front of the fielder so they don't get hurt."

Lynn Dreher, John's wife, nominated Frahn for the award. In her nomination, she wrote the following:

"Amy has volunteered in our community for years, including 15 years with Menifee Valley Little League, and is now starting the seventh year of running the District 28 Challenger Baseball Division. Last fall, she started a football and cheerleader division for special needs players and is working on starting a basketball division soon. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition."

At left, Amy Frahn cheers on a Challenger player as John Dreher pushes the wheelchair.

Frahn said the football teams play flag football on half of a regulation field. Every player has the opportunity to score a touchdown.

"When they pass the ball, a buddy catches the ball and hands it to the player to run with it," Frahn said. "Then we have cheerleaders who learn routines and perform at halftime."

Frahn's husband is a coach in the Challenger program and her three children have participated as buddies over the years. She said the look on the players' faces and the faces of their parents makes it all worthwhile.

"With all the volunteer help of the buddies and coaches, the parents are able to sit back and enjoy watching their kids on the field," she said. "You can see tears in the parents' eyes as they see their child do something for the first time. And the kids get so excited."

Registration for the spring season of Challengers baseball is now open. The season begins March 3. For more information, see the Menifee Valley Little League Parents Facebook page or visit the league's website at this link.

"Hometown Heroes" is a Menifee 24/7 program created to recognize those in our community who truly are making a difference. To nominate someone for consideration, send us a Facebook message, email menifee247info@gmail.com or mail us at 28313 Parkdale Lane, Menifee CA 92584.

John and Lynn Dreher have worked together with Jason and Amy Frahn for years.

Amy Frahn poses with the "buddies" who assist in the Challengers program.

Amy poses with the coaches in the Challenger program.