White inspires donation challenge
The late Betty White was a tireless lifetime advocate for animals, from caring for those without homes to launching her own weekly TV show,
“The Pet Set,” dedicated to her celebrity friends and their pets.
Her most far-reaching contribution, though, may be yet to come: On Monday, fans of White are poised to donate to animal welfare charities and shelters as part of what has been dubbed the #Bettywhitechallenge. And animal welfare nonprofits are gearing up to capitalize on the viral tribute to the star of “The Golden Girls” and “Hot in Cleveland” on what would have been her 100th birthday.
“I’ve had many conversations with Betty about animal welfare, and I know she’s looking down from heaven and really smiling,” said Robin Ganzert, who leads American Humane, an animal welfare organization that White was involved with for more than 60 years.
“She’ll be smiling on her birthday,” she said. “And she’ll be smiling about the lives she’s changed.”
It isn’t exactly clear who started the #Betty Whitechallenge on social media shortly after White’s death on Dec. 31. However it began, the idea — to donate $5 to a local animal rescue organization in White’s name on her Jan. 17 birthday — quickly took off and drew support from celebrities like actors Mark Hamill and George Takei on Twitter.
During the decades in which White was involved with American Humane, she made fundraising appeals and served on its board and as a presenter and judge on its televised show featuring “hero” dogs. During tapings of “The Pet Set” in the early
1970s, Ganzert said, White would have American Humane representatives on set to ensure that animals were safe. In 2012, the nonprofit honored her with its highest award, the National Humanitarian Medal.
North Shore Animal League America, a no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, has received a donation from the Hallmark Channel in honor of White, part of a tribute that also includes a “Golden Girls” marathon and her Hallmark movie “The Lost Valentine” on Monday.
‘Nevermind’ baby refiles lawsuit:
The man who as a 4-month-old appeared nude on the 1991 cover of Nirvana’s album “Nevermind” on Thursday filed a new version of his lawsuit alleging the image is child pornography.
Federal Judge Fernando M. Olguin had dismissed Spencer Elden’s lawsuit on Jan. 4 after a missed deadline, but gave him permission to file an amended version.
The new complaint includes a declaration from the album’s graphic designer that Elden’s lawyers argue demonstrates that the band and Geffen Records deliberately sought to exploit the image for commercial gain.
The defendants named include surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic and the estate of Kurt Cobain.
Jan. 17 birthdays: Actor James Earl Jones is 91. TV host Maury Povich is 83. Comedian Steve Harvey is
65. Singer Susanna Hoffs is
63. Actor Jim Carrey is 60. Actor Naveen Andrews is
53. Musician Kid Rock is
51. Actor Zooey Deschanel is 42. Singer Ray J is 41. DJ Calvin Harris is 38. Actor Jonathan Keltz is 34. Actor Kelly Marie Tran is 33.