Fans around the world continue to mourn legendary TV star Betty White, who died on December 31. From her early days as a pioneer in the industry to her iconic roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, Betty left behind decades of timeless comedic performances.
But while best known for her TV work, Betty White was long a champion of a cause even closer to her heart: helping animals.
As tributes continue to pour in for the late star, many have praised her lifelong work with animal organizations — and one newly-revealed story is particularly inspiring, showing how Betty did things from the goodness of her heart without wanting any praise or attention.
The Audubon Nature Institute, a non-profit zoo and aquarium in New Orleans, paid tribute to Betty White after her passing: “We lost a conservationist, animal advocate, and friend,” they wrote on Twitter.
But they also revealed how the star helped out, anonymously, after their city was hit with a historic catastrophe.
“When the penguins & sea otters were evacuated to [Monterey Bay Aquarium] for Hurricane Katrina, Betty White paid for the plane to relocate them,” the Audubon Institute wrote.
“She did not ask for fanfare; she just wanted to help.”