Latana Library Foundation

I'm raising money to benefit Lantana Library Foundation Inc, a tax deductible 501c3, and any donation will help make an impact! The Foundation supports the library by helping renovate the building, adding extras like a Montessori station, supplementing funding for books, funding much needed programs for kids and teens in our community, and of course, backing literacy projects at the library.

The new Library building is almost done! The ribbon cutting is planned for February 22nd at 11 am and the celebration will continue on March 11th at noon - with free food trucks, bounce house, face painting, storytimes, goodie bags, and more! It will have a dedicated teen room, kids room, community room, garden, and small meeting rooms.

While the goal remains to help the Foundation, the genesis of this Gofundme is the hope that we can come together to name the Youth Room after two Lantana kids very close to my heart: my little sister, Kim Kreidler, and my dad, Frank Kreidler, who were both once kids roaming the streets of Lantana, using the old library in Bicentennial park, using Teen Town (my dad), bopping around Maddock Park skate park (Kim), and looking for a safe, comfortable space to learn and hang out. If you didn’t know, both recently passed away in the last few years. Kim suddenly succumbed to complications related to Cystic Fibrosis and my Dad suffered from a form of dementia that progressed rapidly and left us unsure of why he left us. They left a massive hole in our family, our friends groups, our hearts, and in the communities they were a part of. I can’t think of a better tribute than naming the Youth room at the library after them. My dad loved Lantana and would regale us with tales from the good ol’ days in Lantana Heights. He even used to joke that he wanted his ashes scattered over the Lantana Bowling Alley, site of many fun & crazy nights as a young man (the library happens to look RIGHT onto the site of the old bowling alley!). He was a Marine and in the Navy Reserve, as a JAG and Blue and Gold Officer. He was the City Attorney for Lake Worth and Lake Worth Utilities in the 80s. He also donated his time to the ACLU. 

Kim also went to Lantana Elementary and Lantana Middle School, and spent most of her time on W Broward with the Schurr family, off of Caribbean way with the Gailie Family, playing and hanging out at the old ball fields, and at the houses of so many more friends in Lantana that it would take an essay to list them all! She was an internet content producer for CBS12 and was writing a children’s book. 

They were both Lantana kids through and through! And both had a great silly sense of humor that could bring you to tears from

Laughing. 

The naming rights donation for the kids’ room at the library is $25,000 - hence the goal. If we don’t reach that, it’s ok! We will set-up an installment plan for the naming - Like $5,000 for 5 years to name it after them. And all donations still go to the Lantana Library Foundation no matter what! And it is needed and the funds are used well.

I know that now that the building is done, the Lantana Library would like to add free after school tutoring for kids and teens, free GED and English language classes during the day, a storywalk to the Lantana Nature Preserve, develop so many fun programs for kids, and create a magical sensory garden for those with special abilities and everyone else, too!

*I want to make it clear that the money does not go to me or even pass through my hands! It goes directly to the Foundation whose volunteer Board manages the fund - meaning there are no salaries or overhead paid from the donated funds. The Foundation is always accepting donations of any amount. Checks can be dropped off at the library and if you have any interest in naming rights for rooms, or to learn about donation levels which would add your name to the library donation plaque, please contact Foundation President, Robert Barfknecht - [email redacted] or contact me to get his email, in case goFundme is hiding the email.