Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa’s largest non-profit animal shelter is seeing a remarkable show of love for the late actress and animal advocate Betty White.
Tom Colvin, chief executive officer of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says more than 700 donations were made to the ARL on Monday in White’s honor on what would have been her 100th birthday. Colvin says donations were still arriving Tuesday morning.
The Betty White Challenge started a few weeks ago as a social media movement following her death on December 31st. Colvin had no idea what to expect in terms of donations and is overwhelmed with appreciation for the response.
Eighty-percent of the ARL’s annual budget is based solely on donations and the Des Moines-based shelter takes in more than 11-thousand animals every year.
The ARL serves pets — and people — across Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and more. Donations can still be made once, monthly or through any of several programs, like the Full Bellies Food Fund, the Miracle Medical Fund or Paw It Forward.
To donate, visit the Iowa Animal Rescue League website.
