On December 31, 2021, we all said goodbye to Betty white who we all collectively adopted as "America's Grandma."  Betty White was a beloved actress, but she was also known for her love and compassion for animals.  January 17, 2022, would have been Betty White's 100th birthday, and in honor of her birthday, social media sparked the viral #BettyWhiteChallenge.  The challenge was simple, on what would have been Betty's 100th birthday, do something Betty would do, make a donation to an animal shelter in her honor.

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And boy did people take the challenge very seriously! One Evansville rescue was shocked by the number of donations that came pouring in. It Takes a Village took to Facebook to announce how much the #BettyWhiteChallenge impacted their rescue.   They said they were absolutely shocked at the outpouring of love they saw all in the name of Betty White.  They said nothing could have prepared them for the number of donations they were going to receive.  They received $19,334 in donations thanks to the #BettyWhiteChallange. How amazing is that?!

During this time when things can seem kind of dark, and the world seems so unpredictable, it's nice to hear about how much good there still is in the world.  This was just one rescue in Evansville, imagine how much money in total across the United States was raised to help animals, all in the name of Betty White!  Absolutely incredible.

Here's what It Takes a Village said in a Facebook post about the donations:

n rescue work, almost every day we are confronted with sadness and despair. Some days are harder than others. But then some days, some days are so great that it gives us energy and fills us with hope to keep going. To keep helping those that need us, no matter what. Yesterday was one of those days which will live with us for months, or years, to come. We sent out a request for donations in the #BettyWhiteChallenge. The donations had already started to trickle in since Betty White's death a few weeks ago. But, nothing could have prepared us for how the donations poured in yesterday. Never in ITV's 11-year history have we experienced anything like it. We smiled with each message of encouragement and hope. When all was said and done, tears streamed down our faces when we saw the total. Are you ready for it? In love and honor for Betty White and homeless animals, your donations totaled $19,334!!! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for each and every donation - from $5 to $500.

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