Betty White Challenge Encourages $5 Donations For Local Animal Shelters In Honor Of Late Comedian's 100th Birthday
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Late actress Betty White is trending online for a cause that was very near and dear to her heart.
The Betty White Challenge encourages people to donate to animal shelters in her name.
On what would have been the Hollywood star's 100th birthday Monday, animal lovers joined forces to raise money for no-kill shelters and to promote pet adoption.
"I need a little lovechild," said Sue Owensby as she was picking up her newly adopted Labrador Mix Monday. "We just love dogs, always had them. We love them. And they need the love. They need the home."
Owensby said she knew about White's passion for animals.
"She's just a dog lover for 75 years and I can understand the way she loved them because I do too."
#BettyWhiteChallenge is exploding in popularity. It encourages everyone to donate $5 to any local or national animal shelter, including the Humane Society of Broward County.
"The animal welfare world is taking advantage of today and honoring Betty White which today would have been her 100th birthday and asking everyone to donate 5$ to their local animal shelter," explained Kathy Tricomi with the Humane Society of Broward County.
Miami Dade Animal Services partnered with the Friends of Miami Animals Foundation.
FOMA will match every $5 donation made on its website dedicated to animal services at FOMApets.org.
"One of the nice things about it is that it gives us a platform to tell our community that needs us and that the community pets need us," said Yolanda Berkowitz with FOMA.
While the loss of Betty White on New Year's Eve at 99 years old was felt by so many, now even more animals will benefit from her incredible legacy.
"She's a wonderful woman and it's a great way to honor her and pay it forward to all the homeless animals," Tricomi said.