January 17 would have been Betty White's 100th birthday. Fans of the Golden Girls star, who passed away on New Year's Eve, have been honoring her memory with the Betty White Challenge, which encourages fans to donate to animal shelters or animal rights organizations. White was a passionate advocate for animals, working with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 50 years. Country star Trisha Yearwood is one of the fans who is supporting White's legacy.
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"Everybody loves Betty White. I've been reading about the influx of donations to pet charities and shelters across the nation since Betty's passing, and I think she is up there smiling so big that this is how the world is showing her how much we love her. I'm excited to be a part of the Betty White Challenge to help shine a light on the great work that rescues, and shelters do, many with only volunteers and private donations of food, bedding, and time," Yearwood explained to People.
Read More: Dolly Parton + More Country Stars Mourn the Late Television Icon Betty White
To support the initiative, Yearwood hosted a virtual event with talkshoplive to raise money for rescue pets around the country and announced she would match up to $10,000 in donations. The country music star first announced the event on social media saying, "We are going to honor Betty White's 100th birthday by donating to animals," on her Facebook page.
Seriously, thank you for being a friend and doing the #BettyWhiteChallenge with me! We raised over $24k in 15 minutes and the donations are still coming in! Everyone who donates $25.00 or more will get this #DottiesYard magnet! Xo
Watch & Donate here: https://t.co/0CVfdX6dZc pic.twitter.com/5KEK0LfbT4
— Trisha Yearwood (@trishayearwood) January 17, 2022
According to Yearwood's Twitter, she was able to raise over $24,000 in under 15 minutes. By the following day on Jan. 18, she had raised over $38,000. According to People, Yearwood and Talkshoplive would be matching up to $10,000 as well.
"They need our help. The common denominator is love. Betty showed us how. Now we have to keep it up and make sure her legacy lives on. Love all creatures, great and small!" Yearwood told People.
The country singer is personally passionate about animal rights and launched her own charity Dottie's Yard Fund in 2021, named after her and her husband Garth Brooks' late dog Dottie. The couple also shares two additional rescue pups and uses their new charity to support other shelter pets around the country.
This post was originally published on Jan. 17, 2022. It was updated on Jan. 19, 2022.
