#BettyWhiteChallenge Urges Help For Shelter Pets To Honor Icon

LONG ISLAND, NY — A North Fork animal shelter is taking part in an effort, spreading like wildfire on social media, to remember Betty White by honoring her fierce love for animals.

The #BettyWhiteChallenge urges people — on what would have been Betty White's 100th birthday on January 17 — to donate to an animal shelter or rescue organization of their choice in her memory.

In Peconic, Gabrielle Stroup, director of operations for The League, formerly known as the North Fork Animal Welfare League, asked that supporters donate $5 to the organization in Betty White's name.

"I think it’s a great idea to honor such and animal lover on what would have been her 100th birthday," Stroup said. "It’s an amazing tribute. It will be great to see how many donations to animal rescues come in."

Betty White died, at 99 on New Year's Eve, just days short of her much-anticipated 100th birthday.

While she amassed legions of fans for her role as the daffy but loving Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls," as well as generations of new followers after her 2010 Super Bowl ad for Snickers and work on "Boston Legal", "Hot in Cleveland," "Saturday Night Live" "The Simpsons", and so many others — she was also known for her long legacy of working to protect animals.

Fans and celebrities alike have been sharing the hashtag #BettyWhiteChallenge.

"Thank you for being a friend," Nancy Sinatra wrote in a Tweet.