LOS ANGELES — LeVar Burton’s “Reading Rainbow” fundraising effort is getting a boost from a generous pal: Seth MacFarlane.

MacFarlane has promised to match up to $1 million in pledges made on the Kickstarter website, Burton said in a statement Thursday. MacFarlane’s offer is in effect through 3 p.m. EDT on July 2, when the online fundraiser is to conclude.

Burton said he was left nearly speechless by the “extraordinary generosity” of his friend, the TV and movie writer-producer-actor whose credits include “Ted” and “Family Guy.” MacFarlane’s spokeswoman confirmed the offer.

MacFarlane jumped in after hearing that “Reading Rainbow” needed to raise at least $5 million, Burton said. The Kickstarter campaign’s initial goal was $1 million.

More than $4 million had been pledged by 83,000-plus contributors as of Thursday afternoon.

Burton, star of “Roots” and “Star Trek: Next Generation,” was host of the children’s literacy program that aired on public television through 2009. “Reading Rainbow” was launched as a best-selling tablet app in 2012, and aims to expand its reach with a $5 monthly online version.

An educator-specific format will be created for schools and made available free to at least 1,500 of the neediest classrooms, according to RRKidz, the for-profit company co-founded by Burton.

“It was my mother who taught me that, by picking up a book, I could ‘go anywhere’ and ‘be anything,”‘ Burton said.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.