'Betty White Challenge': Donations pour into animal shelters

Actress Betty White poses for a portrait
Actress Betty White poses for a portrait in 2009 following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif., White's 100th birthday is prompting a flurry of donations to animal welfare organizations, including some in Minnesota. 
Chris Pizzello | AP 2009

Television star Betty White's 100th birthday is prompting a flurry of donations to animal welfare organizations, including some in Minnesota. 

White died Dec. 31 at the age of 99. Besides her roles on the “Mary Tyler Moore” show and the “Golden Girls” and game show appearances, she was well known for her support for animal causes.  

An online movement to donate to animal welfare organizations in her name, dubbed the #Bettywhitechallenge, turned viral on Monday, which would have been her birthday. The effort urged people to donate at least $5 in White’s memory. 

“It looks like we have just over 1,110 donations so far today, which would not be typical for a normal Monday,” Krista Gallagher Colt, director of annual giving for the Golden Valley-based Animal Humane Society, told MPR News.

The organization typically sees “a couple hundred” donations on a typical Monday and was still totaling up the donations that have come in specifically mentioning White, she added.

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