Animal shelter donations have increased exponentially in honor of late actress gay icon and animal lover Betty White.
Over the last two weeks donations have poured in to local animal shelters and rescues as a way for fans to honor the Golden Girls star.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge picked up steam on social media following the TV legend’s death calling on fans to give $5 to shelters, rescues and other organizations on what would have been White’s 100th birthday on January 17th.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge brought attention to shelters and rescues big and small since the 99-year-old was a well-known animal advocate.
According to a rep for GoFundMe, animal-specific fundraisers and donations to animal-related fundraisers have been up in the two weeks since White’s death, with other organizations seeing the same change.
Outside of TV and family, White’s passion was for animals. The actress, who rescued several dogs in her lifetime, started working with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association in 1966 and joined the board of trustees in 1974.
In 2006, Betty was honored as the City of Los Angeles’ “Ambassador to the Animals” for her lifelong work for animal welfare.
She supported animals through her fan club, Bets’ Pets, which donated its dues to animal rescue charities. The Hot in Cleveland actress often supported fundraisers for animal welfare organizations like the Morris Animal Foundation and American Humane. Following her death, the Audobon Nature Institute shared a story about how she paid for a plane to relocate zoo and aquarium penguins and sea otters from New Orleans to California following Hurricane Katrina.
White passed away in her Brentwood home on December 31st, 2021.
