LeVar Burton’s ‘Reading Rainbow’ Kickstarter Campaign Sets Record

LeVar Burton has set a new online crowdfunding record for the most individual contributors for a single project after launching a Kickstarter campaign to revive his popular children’s show Reading Rainbow.

The Star Trek star, who served as the educational series’ executive producer and host from 1983 until 2005, is aiming to raise $5 million for the cause by the end of Wednesday, but he has already earned a place in the crowdfunding industry’s record books after winning the support of more than 98,000 investors.

The previous record of 91,585 backers was set last year by fans of the cult TV drama Veronica Mars.

Burton announced his plans to bring back Reading Rainbow online via the Kickstarter.com campaign in May and he reached his initial goal of $1 million in less than 24 hours.

He then changed his aim to $5 million and received a huge boost from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane last week, when the animator and filmmaker pledged $1 million of his own money to the cause and promised to match all subsequent donations too.

The campaign had raised just over $4.84 million as we went to press.

Photo Credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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