Seth McFarlane Will Match Donations to the 'Reading Rainbow' Kickstarter

Have you donated yet?

Utilizing the successful history of donation site Kickstarter, actor LeVar Burton has been campaigning to bring back childhood educational favorite, "Reading Rainbow."

The campaign has reached over $4 million already, but is angling for a cool $5 million. Lofty goals perhaps, but lofty aspirations as well - the more money the Kickstarter brings in, the more underfunded classrooms can be given access to the web series for free.

"Family Guy" funny man Seth McFarlane has stepped in to make sure the good work gets done. McFarlane has pledged to match donations made in the final five days - up to $1 million, which would certainly put "Reading Rainbow" well over its goal if enough people stepped up.

This added donation could mean that approximate 12,500 (up from the original goal of 7,500) underfunded classrooms would have access to the web series.

"Right now, one out of four children in the U.S. will grow up illiterate," notes the Kickstarter page. "Children who can't read at grade level by the 4th grade are 400% more likely to drop out of high school."

"Reading Rainbow" hit the air in 1983, using television to bring books to children. Now, the campaign notes, television is a more difficult medium, and they must change with the times to bring children back to reading. They aim to put access to thousands of children's books on the web and digital devices, and make these available to many classrooms that would not otherwise be able to access the series.

... And if the warm glow isn't reward enough, "Reading Rainbow" has some decent incentives: from a thank-you tweet from "Reading Rainbow" and a bumper sticker, to a private dinner with LeVar Burton.

The Kickstarter ends July 2nd at 3 p.m. If you haven't yet had a chance to submit a couple bucks, check out the website for the campaign here.