Actress Betty White, a longtime supporter of the Los Angeles Zoo, died on Dec. 31. (photo Jamie Pham)

Actress and philanthropist Betty White would have turned 100 years old on Jan. 17. To celebrate, the Los Angeles Zoo held a special ceremony in her honor in its Allen Ludden Plaza, which is named after White’s late husband.

The plaza was decorated with white roses in commemoration of White, who died on Dec. 31 at the age of 99. She was a longtime supporter of animal rights and the Los Angeles Zoo. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilwoman Nithya Raman, 4th District, and zoo director Denise Verret spoke about her positive impact and contributions. White was a longtime trustee, board member and donor to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, and had been named an honorary zookeeper and Ambassador to the Animals by the city of Los Angeles.

“Betty was not just an advocate for the L.A. Zoo and the animals here, but for animals all over the world, from those in the wild to those in shelters and guide dogs for the blind, she loved all animals, large and small,” GLAZA president Tom Jacobson said. “And, she was never one to stand outside and criticize. She would always work with us to do what she could to help. She always looked forward, never back, and wanted to have a positive impact on the world, and that’s what she did.”

Jacobson said White visited the zoo frequently and was always good natured and accessible to fans. She was also a familiar attendee at GLAZA’s annual Beastly Ball, one of the largest annual fundraisers for the zoo.

Verret said White’s impact was significant. Her involvement and support for the zoo started with its opening in 1966. After joining GLAZA’s board of trustees in 1974, White produced and starred in “Backstage at the Zoo,” a TV special that raised awareness about animal care and zoo programs. She later authored “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo,” with proceeds from the book benefiting GLAZA and the zoo.

“The words that come to mind when I think about Betty are entertainment legend and animal advocate, and she was a member of the Los Angeles Zoo family for decades,” Verret said. “Betty was our biggest champion and she worked tirelessly on behalf of the Los Angeles Zoo and the animals that call the zoo home. She knew the importance of animals and their impact on the human spirit. She understood and valued the work that the Los Angeles Zoo and other ACA-accredited zoos do every day for species conservation. She marveled at the exceptional care that our animal keepers provided the animals. She spent a lot of time here and developed a lot of special relationships with the animal care team.”

Garcetti also lauded White’s contributions to the zoo and the city of Los Angeles.

“We adored her for so many reasons. First and foremost was her talent. Her pitch perfect comedic timing, the decades she spent making us laugh in her roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and the “Golden Girls.” We loved her warmth and we loved her sense of mischief. Anybody who ever spent time with her knew her humor was mischievous. She could deliver lines that you’d never expect coming out of Betty White, as only she could,” Garcetti said. “But even bigger than her talent was her heart, her heart for people and for all living things. It was that heart and humanity that she expressed right here at the Los Angeles Zoo.”

Pink’s Hot Dogs on La Brea Avenue was another Los Angeles landmark frequently visited by White, who loved hot dogs “naked, just beef in a bun,” owner Richard Pink said. In tribute to White, Pink’s donated proceeds from eight days of sales of the Betty White Naked Hot Dog to the Los Angeles Zoo. Richard, his wife, Gloria, and sister, Beverly Pink-Wolfe, presented a $3,000 check to the zoo at the ceremony on Jan. 17.

“You just mention the name Betty White and what comes to mind but joy and laughter and fun,” Richard Pink said. “We have been selling the Betty White Naked Dog for well over a week and we’re giving 100% of the proceeds to the L.A. Zoo, which Betty of course loved, I think, more than she loved hotdogs. We’re so proud to donate $3,000 to the Los Angeles Zoo so they can continue the legacy of Betty White.”

GLAZA also raised $70,389 on Jan. 17 as part of the #Bettywhitechallenge, a virtual event held in celebration of her 100th birthday. The Los Angeles Zoo has many ways for fans to pay tribute to White and learn about her advocacy for animals. A memorial garden at the Allen Ludden Plaza will be open through the end of January. The zoo has also created the self-guided “Betty’s L.A. Zoo Tour” allowing guests to learn about her connection to particular animals through a series of pictures and quotes. For more information and a list of tour locations, guests can scan a QR code included on each sign. The walking tour will be open through Jan. 31.

Jacobson said White left a lasting legacy that will never be forgotten, and said he is thankful to have known her.

“We could spend all day talking about her, laughing, crying, sharing stories,” Jacobson added. “But knowing Betty, she would think that was a waste of time. She would want us to stay focused on our mission, the bigger picture, conserving wildlife for future generations.”