Millions of hearts were broken on New Year’s Eve with the sad news that the lovely and amazing Betty White had left us.
As a way to honor the lifelong animal lover, the #BettyWhiteChallenge asks everyone to donate $5 to their local animal shelter or rescue on January 17, which would have been White’s 100th birthday. (If you can afford to, it would be extra special to donate $100.)
You know that somewhere out there, White is thrilled about this.
I’ll be donating to spcaLA. White was a longtime supporter of this Los Angeles nonprofit and a friend of its president, Madeline Bernstein. On a personal note, my very first dog was a German Shepherd mix adopted from spcaLA. A couple of decades later, I adopted an amazing Pit Bull named Sophie from the same shelter.
If there isn’t an animal shelter or rescue in your area, you might want to consider donating to one of the following organizations that White supported:
- The Morris Foundation, with which White was involved for over 40 years. This nonprofit works “to improve and protect the health of animals through scientific innovation, education and inspiration,” according to its website. White sponsored its animal health studies that resulted in major breakthroughs in pain management; information on genetic mutations that cause bone cancer in dogs; and using ultrasound to manage canine congestive heart failure.
- The Seeing Eye, whose mission is to “enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs.” White was involved with this nonprofit for over four decades.
What animal shelter or rescue will you be donating to? Please leave a comment (and a link!) below.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Betty White!
Photo: @RexChapman/Twitter