Sadly, on December 21, 2022, a few weeks before her 100th birthday, comedy legend Betty White passed away. Not only will her legacy live on through her creative talents in the entertainment industry but also in her undying love for animals.
White was an animal rights activist who spent her time being a board member of American Humane, an organization founded in 1877 dedicated to protecting and promoting the “safety, welfare and well-being of animals,” according to their website. White was also involved with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo, on the board of trustees. She was associated with PETA, the Los Angeles ASPCA, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. Finally, among much other animal philanthropy, White served as a trustee, board president, donor, and spokesperson for the Morris Animal Foundation, an animal charity located in Colorado. All in all, White passed away as an animal rights icon. The majority of her wealth will be donated to animal non-profit charities, as stated by Anton Legal.
In honor of White’s passion for helping animals, a challenge began to circulate the internet: the “Betty White Challenge.” Essentially, it encouraged White’s fans and animal lovers to donate any amount (whether small or substantial) to a local animal organization on January 17, her birthday. Thus, what began as a small social media campaign quickly began to funnel heaps of donations around the country.
According to a January 18 CBS article, the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford, Massachusetts received over $17,000 on the actress’s centennial. They will use this generous sum to “rehabilitate orphaned or injured local wildlife.”
Hundreds of other charities share similar stories from January 17, thankful to the animal lovers and White’s admirable legacy.
In total, the “Betty White Challenge” acquired a total of $12,700,000 for animal shelters, with over 390,000 donors, according to Instagram and Facebook alone.
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