Betty White’s Legacy Lives On as People Donate Millions to Animal Shelters In Her Honor

Betty White — a beloved icon who starred in many TV shows and films — passed away on December 31st, 2021.

Betty White handprints in Disney World

Her legacy continues to live on as people have found inspiration in both her film career and her off-camera good works. One of the ways White’s legacy has continued to bring good into the world is the Betty White Challenge, which is an effort to raise money for animal shelters and rescue organizations. This challenge has gone viral on social media, and now people have donated millions of dollars to supporting animals world-wide.

The Betty White Challenge began as a way to honor White on what would have been her 100th birthday. People were encouraged to donate to shelters and rescue organizations on January 17th as a tribute to her life-long love and advocacy for animals.

©People

As of writing (on January 24th), more than $12.7 million has been donated in White’s honor. On January 17th, almost $900,000 had been donated by 26,000 people, but the donations continued to come in. Now, over 390,000 people have donated to #BettyWhiteChallenge fundraisers on Instagram and Facebook, according to Variety. These platforms do not charge fees for donations to nonprofit organizations, such as nonprofit animal shelters and rescues.

©Variety

Betty White is best known for her many roles in TV shows and film, including her roles in The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Life with Elizabeth, and Hot in Cleveland. She loved animals and frequently advocated for animal welfare throughout her life. She worked as a trustee with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (a nonprofit in Los Angeles) and was also a trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation. In addition, she funded the Betty White Wildlife Fund and sponsored many animal health studies.