Animal Shelters Flooded With Donations In Honor Of Betty White
By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Animal rescue organizations and shelters around the country have been flooded with donations this week in honor of the late actress and animal advocate Betty White, who passed away just weeks before her 100th birthday.
White, a beloved Hollywood legend, passed away on Dec. 31 in her home at the age of 99. She was reportedly in good health just weeks earlier when she did an interview with People magazine in anticipation of her upcoming birthday.
Upon hearing the news of White’s death, devoted fans began flooding the internet with suggestions of making a donation to an animal rescue organization or shelter on what would have been White’s 100th birthday … Jan. 17. The #BettyWhiteChallenge hashtag went viral.
Animal shelters and rescues are reporting an influx of donations this week, earmarked #BettyWhiteChallenge.
A representative for One Dog At A Time Rescue in Warsaw told InkFreeNews their organization received $1,892 in honor of White.
New Hope Pet Rescue in Syracuse reported donations of over $1,000.
Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County reports they are still receiving donations and did not have a total at the time of publication.
Wabash County Animal Shelter said in a Facebook post, “We are astounded and so grateful to have over $2,600 go into the Hope for the Helpless Fund in honor of Betty White. Thank you for helping both in this way and for stopping by with donations and to spend time with the adoptable animals. We appreciate each and every one of you and are humbled once again by your generosity.”
According to a post on the Whitley County Humane Society Animal Shelter’s Facebook page, they received more than $7,000 in one day as a tribute to White.
Fulton County Animal Center reported over $2,500 in donations, stating, “Betty White is surely smiling down from heaven. Thank you to all who donated in her memory. What a legacy.”
All 4 Animals Rescue in Mishawaka received $2,545 during the challenge.
A Facebook post on the Goshen Humane Society Inc. Facebook page read, in part, “Over 160 donated in honor and memory of Betty White’s ‘almost’ 100th birthday Jan.17!! The grand total was just under $5,000!!!!!”
Humane Fort Wayne reported raising a total of $80,722 during the Jan. 17 #BettyWhiteChallenge. This included matching donations of $10,000 and $25,000 by generous donors.
Many hope the #BettyWhiteChallenge becomes an annual tradition.
Her Hollywood career spanned seven decades and included games shows, sitcoms and movies. White received eight Emmy Awards, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She was best known for her roles as Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in the 70s, Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls” from 1985-1992 and Elka Ostrovsky on “Hot in Cleveland” from 2010-2015 as well as a panelist on multiple game shows.
As humane societies and rescues benefit from much-needed donations, White’s legacy lives on – making the world a better place for people and animals.