NEWS

'Reading Rainbow' gets hand from Seth MacFarlane

Staff Writer

Columbus Monthly

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeVar Burton says his "Reading Rainbow" fundraising effort is getting a generous boost from Seth MacFarlane.

Burton said Thursday that MacFarlane has promised to match up to $1 million in pledges made on the Kickstarter website. The offer from MacFarlane is in effect through 3 p.m. Eastern on July 2, Burton said in a statement.

The "Star Trek: Next Generation" star hosted the children's literacy program that aired on public television through 2009.

"Reading Rainbow" was launched as a tablet app in 2012, and Burton aims to expand its reach with a $5 monthly online version.

More than $4 million has been pledged so far by 83,000-plus contributors.

Burton says his pal MacFarlane jumped in after hearing that "Reading Rainbow" needed to raise at least $5 million.