Marge Lanthier, former senior advancement officer
at St. Andrew’s School, is president of the Friends of
the Highland Beach Library. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Mary Thurwachter
The day before Valentine’s Day, a group of volunteers spent the afternoon at the library stuffing envelopes for the annual fundraising campaign. Leading the effort was Marge Lanthier, president of the Friends of the Highland Beach Library.
Lanthier kept the group (including her husband, Jack) on task. Her enthusiasm never waned — a trait that, when coupled with her strong work ethic, propelled her to phenomenal success in raising money in the past.
Before she retired as senior advancement officer for St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton in 1997, Lanthier took just three years to raise $6.2 million for the private school. That accomplishment followed an even bigger one, in which she was able to raise $200 million for the University of Western Ontario, where she was external vice president and director of the Renaissance Campaign.
“I enjoy supporting education,” Lanthier, 73, says. As for fundraising, “I never thought I would raise money for anybody. I fell into it.”
Isn’t raising money difficult, especially in these troubled economic times?
“It is hard if you don’t do it on a personal basis,” she adds. “The key to fundraising is being sincerely interested in people and helping them do what they want to do to make a difference. And you have to believe in what you’re doing.”
A former journalist and English teacher, Lanthier, who grew up in Fair Haven, Vt., believes in libraries and wants the best for the one in Highland Beach, a town she and her husband have called home for 17 years. Last year, the Friends of the Highland Beach Library was able to do a whole lot of good for the library, spending a whopping $95,831. The range of projects included hardwood floors, storage cabinets, window treatments and AC for the community room, landscaping for the front entrance, and 10 Nooks so residents are virtually able to get any book they wanted — even if the library doesn’t have it on its shelves.
Last year’s goal was $26,000, which was exceeded by $5,000 because of a very successful gift show and used book sales. A $100,000 bequest from a resident in 2010 fattened the bank to allow for more spending than usual.
This year the Friends, who organize and fund cultural/educational events, including musical events, book talks, and receptions for visiting artists in collaboration with the library, have set a goal of $27,000.
Lanthier has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Pacific University in Oregon and a masters in education from Oregon State University.
Between them, she and Jack have nine children and 15 grandchildren.
In their spare time, they deliver meals for The Caring Kitchen in Delray Beach.
The Lanthiers love to travel and went sailing on their honeymoon 17 years ago. They spend summers in their cottage on Lake Heron and are planning a cruise to Barcelona next month. Ú
The Friends of the Library will sponsor a performance by the Lyric String Quartet at 5 p.m. March 14, and a piano and vocal performance by Paul Golden at 5 p.m. March 29. Both will be in the library’s Sanford H. Goldstein Community Room, 3618 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.
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