By Chris Spangler
Animal lovers rose to the Betty White Challenge Monday, raising $10,705 for the Humane Society of Jefferson County.
The iconic actor known for her roles in the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Golden Girls” passed away on Dec. 31, 2021, just weeks before her 100th birthday on Jan. 17.
A global movement, the #BettyWhiteChallenge called for donations to shelters and rescues in honor of White, a lifelong animal lover and advocate.
Hundreds of people answered the local call to help unwanted, neglected and abused pets in honor of the beloved television star.
“We received $10,705, which shows just an incredible outpouring of love that existed for her and support for our shelter,” Humane Society of Jefferson County Executive Director Jeff Okazaki said of White.
“What we got was really fantastic. It was a great remembrance for Betty White, as well as a wonderful gift for our shelter,” he added.
The $10,705 included $2,820 contributed through Facebook, about $7,300 donated via the website and approximately $600 in checks sent through the mail.
Okazaki noted that the Dane County Humane Society had a $10,000 goal and received more than $21,000 in donations. However, Jefferson County’s shelter had not set a target amount.
“We had no expectations about what was going to come in. We simply were part of the national movement in honor of Betty White, and it was amazing,” Okazaki said.
Many donations were given in memory of White along with past or current rescued pets. Among them were Nakupenda, Cora, Minna and Ziggy, who were mentioned on Facebook.
Okazaki said that the donations will go toward programming, the animal medical fund and general care in terms of buying food, toys, blankets and the like.
The medical care fund, he explained, is used if “a cat or a dog comes in and is very, very sick, or has cancer or has a damaged leg because they were hit by a car. Where other shelters might consider that dog to be unadoptable or a candidate to be put down, we want to try to save every life that we can.”
Okazaki pointed out that just like Betty White was to do, the local animal shelter is turning 100 years old in 2022.
“There was a double connection for us. We had thought that with this being our 100th birthday and it being Betty White’s 100th birthday, we would have loved to have her do a video message for our anniversary,” Okazaki said. “Unfortunately, she passed away before that happened.”
The shelter is planning several activities and events, though, kicking off its centennial year with a free drawing to win $100.
Persons may celebrate the shelter’s “100 Years of Love” by entering a drawing at https://hsjc-wis.com/100-giveaway/ for a chance to win $100 donated by a sponsor.
There is no fee to enter. Entries must be received by noon on Jan. 31, with the winner to be drawn at random.
In addition, the shelter is holding a Valentine’s Day raffle with a $1,000 gift certificate from Crazy Lenny’s E-bikes of Madison as the prize.
The drawing will be held at noon on Feb. 14.
To enter, visit www.hsjc-wis.com.
The shelter executive director said the Kids’ Camp and Oct. 22 Fur Ball with a centennial theme also are being planned, as is a retrospective exhibit at the Hoard Historical Museum.
“Our 100th anniversary is such a big celebration,” Okazaki said. “The fact that we’ve been around since 1922 is amazing.”
He said the organization will be taking a look back at “the local founders who started the organization … and the local donors and community members who carried us through the last 100 years.”
He added that it is astonishing to think how many dogs, cats and other animals have been rescued and found loving homes throught those years.
“My guess would be in the tens of thousands … of animals that we’ve served in the last 100 years,” Okazaki estimated.
He based that on the fact that the shelter generally finds homes for 1,000 animals per year, although that has been about 800 to 900 during the pandemic.
“Think about 1,000 per year for the past 100 years — though I’m sure we were much smaller in the past,” he said. “But still, even if it’s the last 50 years, that’s 50,000 animals.”
The goal this anniversary year is to surpass the 2019 number and save even more lives, he said.
Persons considering adoption of a pet should call the shelter at 920-674-2048 to make an appointment.
Those wishing to make a financial contribution may visit www.hsjc.wis.com/donate/. Checks may be mailed to: Humane Society of Jefferson County, @6127 Kiesling Road, Jefferson, WI, 53549.
Animal lovers around the world celebrate the late Betty White’s birthday by making donations to animal shelters and rescue facilities. White would have turned 100 years old Jan. 17. In Jefferson County, donors responding to the #BettyWhiteChallenge contributed some $10,705 to the Humane Society of Jefferson County. Monies arrived predominately through Facebook, with some funds coming through the society’s website and mail, Jefferson County Executive Director Jeff Okazaki said.
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