Betty White’s legacy lives on as a challenge in her name exceeds expectations
They were donation numbers the Executive Director of the Sarnia and District Humane Society couldn't have imagined, leaving Donna Pyette overcome, “Just really, really emotional. Really, just so heartfelt."
Pyette says by the end of Monday, Betty White’s 100th birthday, more than $27,000 in donations were made in the name of the late actor and animal welfare advocate.
"You know we thought, 'yeah, you'll probably get a few people, a few of our volunteers, solid supporters and stuff.’ But not to the degree that we've seen yesterday, that's for sure."
Pyette says it's a testament of the love people had for White and their shared passion for animals.
Humane Society London and Middlesex Executive Director Steve Ryall agrees. His agency has received over $25,000 from donations made in White's name.
"In a month where our donations have generally dropped off, it's a tougher month for us, we're seeing those dollars. So that's going to allow us to keep doing the work that we do," said Ryall.
At the Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre near Strathroy, Ont., founder Brian Salt says he didn't anticipate getting Betty White Challenge donations and then the calls started pouring in.Laggar falcon at Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre on Jan. 18, 2022. (Gerry Dewan / CTV News)"I had no idea of the scope of it. We had literally hundreds of phone calls yesterday of people wanting to donate to Salthaven."
Salthaven rehabilitates a wide variety of rescued animals. Some are injured and some young and separated from parents, many needing specialized veterinary care and medications.
"We see about 1,500 patients a year. It's not a cheap proposition... we're looking at pretty close to a $100,000 a year to do what we do," said Salt.
The humane societies and Salthaven stress that they receive no government funding. They are strictly donor supported.
They say donations made in Betty White's name continue to flow in and they wouldn't be surprised if this campaign becomes an annual event.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.