While Betty White was just 17 days short of making it to her 100th birthday, her legacy continues to live on—as the Van Wert County Humane Society found out—in a big way. Through the efforts of the #BettyWhiteChallenge, nearly $4,000 was raised for local animals in need on Jan. 17, 2022—what would have been White’s 100th birthday.
Van Wert County Humane Society Board of Directors Vice-President Franki Eggleston, an avid Betty White fan, said the challenge was a perfect way to honor the woman who spent her life advocating for animals. The challenge called for people to donate to their local animal shelter or animal organization on White’s 100th birthday.
“We actually still have donations coming in, and we will gladly still take donations in her name,” said Eggleston. “Everybody knows Betty White, and I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like her. A lot of people know that she was an animal advocate, and this was their way to make a tribute to her and help animals also.”
While the shelter is typically closed on Mondays, Eggleston and Board Member, Sarah Burden decided to open the Humane Society from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to see if anyone would show up.
To their delight, people did.
“People stopped on their lunch break and after work to bring in donations and items,” said Eggleston, who noted that the shelter also took donations via PayPal so more people could join in. About half of the total raised came from online monetary donations in White’s name. “We actually didn’t end up leaving until about 4 p.m.”
White, who died Dec. 31, 2021, at age 99, spent her life and career in TV and film. Perhaps best known for her role in “The Golden Girls,” White also spent much of her life advocating for the wellbeing of animals. She worked closely with the Los Angeles Zoo, where she became a trustee of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association in 1974. White was also a trustee with the Morris Animal Foundation from 1971-2013.
In 2010, the Betty White Wildlife Fund was established thanks to a donation from White. The fund supported studies on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the ecological impact on marine and wildlife.
“Animals are near and dear to my heart,” White once said, “and I’ve devoted my life to trying to improve their lives.”
The donations made in White’s name to the Van Wert County Humane Society will certainly do that. Eggleston noted that the donations would directly benefit the animals at the shelter, providing them with veterinary care, food, and other necessary items.
“We do have a separate building fund, but this money is going to go directly to the care of our animals,” said Eggleston, who noted that the shelter just had another litter of puppies and often sees kittens who need eye care.
With such a great success, Eggleston said the shelter would likely revisit the #BettyWhiteChallenge next year and make it a yearly fundraising effort.
Betty White would be proud of such an effort in her name. Brilliant idea!