Betty White would've turned 100 yesterday, and Betty fans in Maine and also from away wanted to make sure she could feel the birthday love in the afterlife by creating the Betty White Challenge.

Betty White adored animals

In a 2012 interview with Smithsonian Magazine, when speaking about her love of animals, Betty credited her parents for her fascination.

"They imbued in me the fact that, to me, there isn't an animal on the planet that I don't find fascinating and want to learn more about. I often say that I have to stay in show business to pay for my animal business."

According to CNN, Betty supported a ridiculous amount of animal nonprofits -- volunteering for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for more than 40 years, eventually serving as a trustee and chair. She was also an ambassador for American Humane, a sponsor for Guide Dogs for the Blind, began the "Puppy Naming Club" for the Endangered Wolf Center, and became a supporter and sponsor for BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center.

The Betty White Challenge honored her love for animals

To pay tribute to both Betty and all the good she did when it came to animals, fans decided to put on the Betty White Challenge, with the idea of donating $5 to a local animal shelter or national animal organizations across the country in her name.

Needless to say, being animal lovers themselves, Mainers rose to the challenge.

Maine animal shelters brought in thousands of dollars for Betty White's birthday

With Maine being such a huge lover of animals, like Betty, there are countless local shelters to donate to. Some of the highlights of Maine's impact on the Betty White Challenge:

  • According to WGME, over $15,000 was raised for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, which included a $5,000 match.
  • Midcoast Humane in Brunswick saw over $8,000 in donations come in (Bangor Daily news is reporting over $9,000 came in).
  • At various moments, Kennebunk's Animal Welfare Society saw donations coming in every few minutes.
  • According to BDN, the Bangor Humane Society raked in over $7,000 in donations
  • PAWS Animal Adoption Center in Camden brought in almost $2,000 in donations
  • Kennebec Valley Humane Society topped $2,000
  • Houlton Humane Society was just shy of $2,000
  • Finally, according to NEWS CENTER Maine, Old Dogs New Digs eclipsed $1,000

Way to step up to the challenge and honor Betty White in the best of ways, Maine. She'd be proud at all the good we did.

Speaking of Maine loving animals, here are random animal pics from Mainers' phones

Listener submitted random phone photos of their animals

Betty would've been proud of these 10 actors who adopted animals from movies and sets

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