If you needed any proof that what Reading Rainbow is doing will change lives, look no further than their Kickstarter Page, which pushed $400,000 over their stretch goal of $5,000,000 to become the most well-funded, highest-backed Kickstarter Campaign in the website’s history. If I calculate correctly, starting at $4 Million, Seth MacFarlane agreed to match up to $1 Million in donations, so the total raised is $6,408,600! It’s amazing to think that their original goal was just $1,000,000 (which was raised in 11 hours, by the way). I was keeping up with these numbers every day, continually astonished that so many people have rallied together to support this amazing cause.
This project seems to be much more than a nostalgia trip. I believe that it also means we as a community are invested in education for millions of children in the U.S. For all the articles I read about budget cuts and poor funding in schools, it really makes me happy to see over 100,000 backers get involved. A community effort indeed. I am hopeful that we will see the effects of this Kickstarter project for years to come in kids who enjoy reading.
I’m extremely proud to be a backer.
Heather Allen 