January 17th would have been a major milestone for world-renowned actress Betty White as she would have turned 100 years old. To the world's despair, she passed away roughly 2 weeks before her birthday.

Betty White became a part of many families throughout her long-lived entertainment/acting career. She began her career in the entertainment industry in 1930 when she lent her voice to a radio program called ‘Empire Builders’. She worked in the radio industry for years and eventually took her comedy into her own radio show called ‘The Betty White Show’.

After radio, she made dozens of appearances in television shows and movies eventually landing her own acting roles. Her most iconic role became her character in the T.V. sitcom classic ‘The Golden Girls’. Throughout her career, Betty White was nominated for 8 different Golden Globe awards but didn’t take any home. However, she did take home 1 Grammy, 7 Primetime Emmy Awards, and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

But Betty White wasn’t only known for her acting career. Throughout her life, she demonstrated a deep love for animals and became a tireless activist for animal rights. She heavily promoted animal rights and interests in her entertainment projects.

She spent decades devoting her help to endangered species and supporting large and local animal shelters and welfare projects. She was a board member for the Los Angeles Zoo and produced a television project called ‘The Pet Set’ in support of the zoo. She also personally adopted many rescue animals.

In honour of her advocacy, after her death an internet challenge became a national trend within days. People call it the ‘Betty White Challenge’ which encourages people to make a $5 donation to an animal shelter or sanctuary in her name. People are honouring her name and participating in the challenge all over North America.

Dozens of Humane Societies, including the Moose Jaw Humane Society, are encouraging people to take part in the challenge.

“We’ve already received several donations,” says Dana Haukaas, Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Humane Society, “Everyone in the animal advocacy field is going to miss her and her support and her face being out there all the time talking about it so much.”

People can make donations to the Moose Jaw Humane society in Betty White’s name by sending an etransfer to outreach@mjhs.ca or by clicking the donate tab on their website.

Country 100’s Teagan Witko talked with Haukaas about how the donations stay local and how an abundance of small donations can truly make a difference.