Seth MacFarlane boosts ‘Reading Rainbow’
LeVar Burton’s “Reading Rainbow” fundraising effort is getting a boost from a generous pal, actor Seth MacFarlane.
MacFarlane has promised to match up to $1 million in pledges made on the Kickstarter website so that an online version of “Reading Rainbow” can be made available without charge to an expanded number of underfunded classrooms, 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.
Quinto joins LGBT commemoration
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power and “Star Trek” star Zachary Quinto joined forces Thursday to promote gay rights while commemorating the 45th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots.
“Without the relentless pressure exerted by this movement over 45 years since then, we would surely be in a different place today as a nation,” Power said. “But the struggle sparked at Stonewall is far from over.”
The Stonewall Inn riots are credited with launching the modern gay rights movement and more than 100 people attended the event at the Roosevelt House at Hunter College, one of many throughout June to celebrate LGBT Pride Month.
Power, Quinto and LGBT activists Bill Bahlman and Alyx Steadman noted progress in gay rights issues, pointing to 19 states that have legalized gay marriage and the large number of openly gay military members.
But they also spoke to the challenges faced by the gay rights movement, such as proposed state laws that would allow business owners to turn away LGBT people because of religious beliefs.
“How do we expand, not only in this country but around the world, this sense of acceptance?” Quinto said. “It can’t rest on legislation or laws or rules. It has to be something more than that.”
The birthday bunch
Business executive Ross Perot is 84. Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is 76. Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys) is 72. Fashion designer Vera Wang is 65. Actress Julia Duffy is 63. Writer-producer-director J.J. Abrams is 48. Jo Frost (TV: “Supernanny”) is 44. Actor Yancey Arias is 43. Actor Christian Kane is 40. Actor Tobey Maguire is 39. Gospel singer Leigh Nash is 38. Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian is 30. Actor Drake Bell is 28. Actor Sam Claflin (“Hunger Games”) is 28. Actor Ed Westwick is 27. Actress Madylin Sweeten is 23. Actor Chandler Riggs is 15.