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‘Betty White Challenge’ raises $12.7M for animal shelters via Facebook, Instagram

Animal shelters and rescues nationwide will soon reap the rewards a guardian angel of only Betty White’s caliber could orchestrate.

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed Friday that viral fundraising efforts across the social media platforms netted $12.7 million in the actor’s memory, Variety reported.

White, a lifelong advocate for animals and their welfare, died Dec. 31, 2021, at the age of 99.

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According to Meta, more than 390,000 people contributed to the #BettyWhiteChallenge, Variety reported.

Meanwhile, White’s representatives on Friday posted a pre-recorded video on the late actor’s Instagram account, allowing her to posthumously thank fans for their generosity.

White’s highest-profile work as an animal advocate was through her longtime relationship with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, the nonprofit arm of the Los Angeles Zoo, Variety reported.

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According to the outlet, White’s involvement with the zoo began when it opened in 1966, and she was appointed a trustee in 1974. She even celebrated her 90th birthday at the facility in 2012.

In addition, White served as a trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation from 1971-2013; provided the 2010 donation that established the Betty White Wildlife Fund in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill; and sponsored more than 30 animal-health studies on behalf of the organization, Variety reported.