Trisha Yearwood raised over $38,000 for animal charities as part of the infamous Betty White Challenge.
The country superstar and wife of Garth Brooks celebrated Betty White’s 100th Birthday on Monday (Jan. 17) with a fundraiser to raise funds for animal charities as part of the Betty White Challenge.
The challenge encouraged people to donate $5 or more to an animal charity in honor of the late Betty White and her 100th birthday.
Named after one of her favorite dogs, Yearwood collected donations for her pet charity, Dottie’s Yard Fund, which helps fund animal shelters and organizations in need. The country hitmaker is reportedly looking at 10-15 charities as possible recipients of funds from the challenge donations.
“Who doesn’t love Betty White?” Yearwood said. “We all do. I just think Betty is so happy right now that this is how the world is choosing to celebrate her birthday by giving to animals, which was so near and dear to her heart. I don’t know who started the Betty White Challenge, but we accepted it.”
Yearwood’s fundraising efforts raised more than $24,000 in just 15 minutes and by Tuesday (Jan. 18) she raised over $38,000 and counting.
“Seriously, thank you for being a friend and doing the #BettyWhiteChallenge with me!” Yearwood shared on Twitter. “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.”
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
The “She’s In Love With The Boy” singer and TalkShopLive, who hosted her campaign livestream, both agreed to match all donations up to $10,000.
“She was beautiful and funny and smart and full of love,” Yearwood said, remembering White and her spirited personality. “The world has really lost a wonderful person, but this is how we keep people that we love alive.” Yearwood then added, “I think we should do this every year on Betty’s birthday.”
“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,” Yearwood told People.
The late actress was known for being an advocate for animals and a longtime champion for animal rights throughout her life. She even spent 50-years working with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.
White, who would have turned 100 on Monday, January 17, was a trailblazing entertainer. She passed away suddenly on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), after a “cerebrovascular accident,” which is “a loss of blood flow to part of the brain, resulting in brain tissue damage,” according to TMZ.
She starred in multiple shows throughout the past eight decades, including her most famous role as Rose Nylund in the famous sitcom, The Golden Girls.
White was an eight-time Emmy Award winner and held the record for the longest TV career of any entertainer after making her acting debut in 1939. Her credits include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Proposal, Lake Placid, Hot in Cleveland, The Bold and the Beautiful and more.
