BC SPCA receives influx in donations in Betty White’s name after actresses passing
Posted January 13, 2022 1:18 pm.
After the beloved Golden Girls actress passed away late last month, Betty White’s legacy is carrying on her compassion for animals as shelters, including the BC SPCA, have received an influx of donations in her name.
Since her passing two weeks ago, BC SPCA spokesperson Lorie Chortyk says they’ve received $15,000 in donations.
More cash is expected to flow on her White’s birthday, Jan. 17, and Chortyk ensures, “we’ll make sure that those donations go to such good work to carry on the things that she was so passionate about.”
Donations on her birthday follow “The Betty White Challenge” which has been circling on social media. It encourages people to donate to their local shelter, specifically on what would have been her 100th birthday.
“She did so much to really raise awareness about the value of animals in our society. And I think the fact that so many people are honouring her by donating to different rescue groups … to a cause that meant so much to her. I’m sure she’s really smiling down from heaven about that,” Chortyk says.
The 99-year-old American actress and comedian died on Dec. 31, just three weeks before her birthday.
The Betty White Challenge. January 17th. #BettyWhiteChallenge
Please pass it on… pic.twitter.com/itufEumDE9
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) January 3, 2022
Chortyk adds every penny is needed and the organization is grateful for each one which “create a better world for animals.”
“Particularly this year … our disaster response has really increased. People who have been impacted by wildfires and floods, we provide a range of services for them, one of them being free pet boarding because so many people had to leave their homes. But they’re in hotels that may not be pet friendly, or they … have a place for themselves, but not for their pets. So we provided over 35,000 days of free pet boarding for victims of disaster.”
The @BC_SPCA says they’ve seen an influx in donations since Betty White’s passing. About $15,000 has been donated in her name in the past 2 weeks. They’re expecting more donations on what would have been Betty’s 100th birthday on January 17th. #BettyWhiteChallenge @CityNewsVAN
— Robyn Crawford (@robyncrawford_) January 13, 2022
The SPCA has also been encouraging their shelters to name animals either after White or after one of the iconic characters she played.
“We were so saddened by Betty’s passing. She was just an amazing advocate for animals. She not only was an adopter of animals, she fostered animals, she was a huge financial supporter. But she also was such an advocate for the protection of animals. We just had such great admiration for her,” Chortyk told CityNews.
“So what we’ve done is since her passing, we have encouraged our shelters right across the province to name animals either after her, or one of the many iconic characters she played. So we’re adopting a lot of little Sue Ann Nivens and Rose Nylund and all sorts of little furry friends who are named in her memory.”
If you’d like to donate to the BC SPCA in White’s memory now or on her birthday, you can do that by visiting spca.bc.ca/donations/make-a-donation and choosing the “In Memory” option and entering her name.
