KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After coming under fire from actor and activist LaVar Burton, the Broncos Kitchen Foundation, a hunger relief charity that serves free dinners to those in need in Kalamazoo, will not use the celebrity’s name for a Kalamazoo library. This after receiving a cease and desist letter from the Pierce Law Group LLP, claiming to represent Mr. Burton.
In a news release from the Broncos Kitchen Foundation dated Wednesday, July 6, the letter from the law group stated, at his urging, (LaVar Burton), they have formally requested that foundation discontinue it’s efforts to generate financial resources to establish the LeVar Burton Library in Kalamazoo.
Pastor William Stein, the co-founder of Bronco’s Kitchen and director of the LeVar Burton Library said in the news release,
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we have formally filed a Certificate of Dissolution of Assumed Name for the former moniker of the library. All references to the same shall be deleted from our website, crowdfunding, and social media platforms. Additionally, the LeVar Burton Library logo shall be retired. We offer our sincere apologies to Mr. LeVar Burton for moving our project forward without a signed contract acknowledging his formal consent. This was a grievous error that has now been rectified.”
Broncos Kitchen Foundation established the LeVar Burton Library in June.
But Burton’s official Twitter account admonished the foundation in a tweet on Tuesday, July 5, calling it a “scam.”
Pastor Stein said that his staff tried to make contact with Burton about the literacy foundation in his name but never heard back. He went onto to say,
“In conclusion, thank you, Mr. Burton, for forgiving us for establishing the former LeVar Burton Library without your direct approval. You are a distinguished actor, director, literacy activist, and all-around humanitarian. Your life’s work is a testament to your personal commitment to improving the lives of citizens throughout the world. We only attempted to magnify your accomplishments. Society seldom names buildings after those who accomplish great feats. We are confident that your name shall appear on a newly constructed library in the United States. We wish you continued success in all of your righteous endeavors. The Broncos Kitchen Foundation shall move forward with our goal to establish a library as a component of a proposed Black history museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A name will not be assigned to the project until written consent has been acquired by the honoree.”.
Burton is best known for his role in the Star Trek franchise and his work on the kids’ TV program “Reading Rainbow.”
