Fans around the world continue to mourn the late great Betty White, who died last month at the age of 99, just weeks before her 100th birthday.
While best known for being a brilliant comedic actress who starred on classic sitcoms like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, White was also known for her deep love of animals. Throughout her life, she used her fame to advocate for animals and support important causes.
So as a fitting way to honor the legendary star, fans decided to donate to animal organizations in memory of Betty White. And yesterday, on the star’s 100th birthday, many shelters saw a big increase in donations.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge
Almost immediately after Betty White passed away on December 31, grieving fans started looking for a way to honor the star’s legacy.
One idea caught on quickly on social media: the #BettyWhiteChallenge, in which fans would donate money to their favorite local animal organization on January 17, which would’ve been the actress’ 100th birthday (and began trending as #BettyWhiteDay.)
According to CBS News, the viral campaign possibly began with a Twitter user replying to a memorial tweet by the actor Ryan Reynolds, who starred alongside White in The Proposal.