By Amanda
18 hours to go and Reading Rainbow’s Kickstarter will not only be fully funded—it will be one of the most successful Kickstarter projects in the history of the website. With just under 100k backers, Reading Rainbow has broken records. So far, $4.9 million has been raised. Will they raise their stretch-stretch-stretch goal of $5 million?
In the first place, Reading Rainbow had an advantage in that it was already a beloved television show for many adults. For decades, LeVar Burton thrilled (and sometimes bored) school-aged—as I’m sure you’re well aware. However, unlike music, comics, and other art forms that are sometimes marketed toward young adults, this Kickstarter has the power of nostalgia working its way into the wallets of middle-aged backers everywhere.
Typical rewards do exist (stickers, wallpapers, coffee mugs), but the rewards also work in a more hybrid way, as artists, actors, and other personas have jumped on board to provide incentives for donating. Harry Potter fan? Pledge $30 for a calendar of artwork from the artist behind the books. Want LeVar’s autograph? $110. Date event with William Shatner? Okay, not a date, but for $300, you can hang with him at an LA event. With high-profile celebrities such as Seth MacFarlane matching pledges and Katee Sackhoff and the Battlestar Galactica gang offering rewards, it is no wonder that this Kickstarter project has done remarkably well.
In the first place, Reading Rainbow had an advantage in that it was already a beloved television show for many adults. For decades, LeVar Burton thrilled (and sometimes bored) school-aged—as I’m sure you’re well aware. However, unlike music, comics, and other art forms that are sometimes marketed toward young adults, this Kickstarter has the power of nostalgia working its way into the wallets of middle-aged backers everywhere.
Typical rewards do exist (stickers, wallpapers, coffee mugs), but the rewards also work in a more hybrid way, as artists, actors, and other personas have jumped on board to provide incentives for donating. Harry Potter fan? Pledge $30 for a calendar of artwork from the artist behind the books. Want LeVar’s autograph? $110. Date event with William Shatner? Okay, not a date, but for $300, you can hang with him at an LA event. With high-profile celebrities such as Seth MacFarlane matching pledges and Katee Sackhoff and the Battlestar Galactica gang offering rewards, it is no wonder that this Kickstarter project has done remarkably well.
At each stage of the project, Reading Rainbow has added more stretch goals, doubled the amount of rewards. The best part about this project being funded is that this could make the difference for an entire generation of students who are being failed by the public school system. If the $5 million is reached, over 7,500 classrooms will get Reading Rainbow for free. The app will be added to more devices for better ease of access. Every child deserves to be told reading is important and fun, something that will help them succeed in life and not just on a test. This Kickstarter project is a way for us to say that we support that message to the tune of millions of dollars.
If you’re reading this and haven’t donated yet, visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/readingrainbow/bring-reading-rainbow-back-for-every-child-everywh. Even if you didn’t like the show, even if you don’t like reading, help someone else have the chance to develop a healthy, positive habit. But enough preaching—anyone want to pitch in on $1,700 so we can meet Patrick Stewart?
If you’re reading this and haven’t donated yet, visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/readingrainbow/bring-reading-rainbow-back-for-every-child-everywh. Even if you didn’t like the show, even if you don’t like reading, help someone else have the chance to develop a healthy, positive habit. But enough preaching—anyone want to pitch in on $1,700 so we can meet Patrick Stewart?