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Update: Pentictonites get in on #BettyWhiteChallenge

KH Kemp and Thompson at 445 Ellis Street is taking donations all day for Critteraid Animal Rescue
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A woman drops off a donation for Critteraid to Brenda and Andrea Kemp of KH Kemp and Thompson for the Betty White Challenge Jan. 17 on what would have been her 100th birthday. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Within 45 minutes, the donation bucket at KH Kemp and Thompson chartered accountants was full to the brim with $5 and $10 bills for Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in honour of Betty White who would turn 100 today, Jan. 17.

Andrea and Brenda Kemp

Brenda is on the board at Critteraid and Andrea is an animal advocate so they thought they would host the Betty White challenge.

“People are hearing about and driving by and donating. It’s been fantastic,” said Brenda at 8:45 a.m. on Monday. Within five minutes two more donations came in.

The #BettyWhiteChallenge is to make a $5 donation to an animal rescue organization.

You don’t even need to get out of your car. Just go to KH Kemp and Thompson chartered accountants at 445 Ellis Street in downtown Penticton between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. today and donate $5 as part of the Betty White challenge.

KH Kemp has balloons out and the Kemp sisters are ready to say a big thank you for your $5 donation, said Jess Byer, founder of Critteraid.

Monday is the incredible Betty White’s 100th birthday. Work she has done on screen has been award-winning but her passion for animals is what we would like to honour, said Critteraid on their Facebook page.

“We are asking for a $5 in her memory from everyone who loves animals as much as she did,” said Byer.

Google has also done a tribute to Betty White in their search bar if you search Betty White.

If you can’t get to the drive thru donation, Critteraid has a donate button on their website or you can E-transfer at info@critteraid.org.

Mere days after her death, images of Betty White hugging puppies spread across the internet as the #BettyWhiteChallenge takes firm hold.

White died Dec. 31, just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday. The actress was a TV mainstay for more than 60 years and condolences poured out across social media platforms as 2021 wound down.

Now, heart-warming memes fill those same pages with a pledge – on White’s birthday, Jan. 17, pick a local animal rescue and donate $5 in her name.

READ MORE: #BettyWhiteChallenge floods internet as late icon’s 100th birthday approaches



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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