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The challenge encouraged people to donate $5 or more to a local animal rescue organization in White’s name on her birthday.

The LaGrange – Troup County Humane Society received approximately 40 donations totaling just over $2,200 specifically labeled to honor White, who would have turned 100 years old on Jan. 17.

“We had anywhere from $5 to $50 donated by each person,” said Mandi Bono, executive director of the LaGrange – Troup County Humane Society.

Bono said Thursday she was in the process of signing thank you notes to send to donors.

The LaGrange Animal Shelter received two donations totaling $105, said Animal Services Supervisor Chris Bussey.

“It’s wonderful,” Bussey said. “Both donations said they were donating in memory of Betty White.”

The first donation was made to the shelter earlier this month while the second was made on Jan. 17.

White, whose television career stretched across over 80 years and included prominent roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Hot in Cleveland” and “The Golden Girls,” was an advocate for animal organizations, including the American Humane Society and the Morris Animal Foundation.

“We’re so grateful,” Bono said. “I know she was on the board of several zoos and a huge animal activist, but it’s rare for something not from this area to affect us, and it made quite the impact on people.”

Both the LaGrange Animal Shelter and LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society accept item and monetary donations in person and online.

To donate to the LaGrange Animal Shelter, call (706) 298-3606 or visit its location at 1390 Orchard Hill Rd. Non-monetary donations can also be left on the shelter’s outside bench during non-operational hours. To donate to the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society, visit https://lagrangehumane.org/.