Betty White challenge proves to be a success for the Potter League for Animals

Even in her death, Betty White is making a difference for animals.

In honor of what would have been her 100th birthday on Monday, the Betty White Challenge sprang to life across social media with a simple goal: Donate to your local animal shelter or any animal charity in White's honor. The effort built upon White's legacy in support of her own passion for animals.

That legacy is now making a difference at the Potter League for Animals in Middletown.

"We had first heard about the #BettyWhiteChallenge about a week or so ago and thought wow, what a wonderful way to honor a woman who was a lifelong champion for animals," Kara Montalbano, director of marketing and community relations at the Potter League, told The Daily News in an email. "Slowly we began to see a trickle in of some donations, but we never expected the truly astonishing amount of donations that came pouring in on the 17th."

Montalbano said as of late Thursday, the Potter League had received more than $13,000 in donations and more were still coming in.

That total includes a generous donation of $3,798 from Embrace Home Loans, which also offered to match $2,500 in donations on top of its own gift.

"That said, we are sorting through all the donations that came in through our website, through the mail, phone calls and social media and can say that we raised over $10,000 and counting," Montalbano said. "We were overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the community and are still counting all the donations that came in. We're beyond thankful to everyone who contributed in Betty White's memory and especially to Embrace Home Loans who matched $2,500 in donations."

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The Associated Press reported White died from a stroke she had six days before her Dec. 31 death at age 99, according to her death certificate.

The beloved "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore Show" actor died at her home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles as the result of a Dec. 25 cerebrovascular accident, the medical term for a stroke, according to the LA County death certificate obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

"Humbled doesn’t even begin to express the truly remarkable outpouring of kindness and joy that was inspired by Betty White and her legacy," Montalbano said.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Betty White Challenge boosts Potter League for Animals, Middletown, RI