NEW ORLEANS — Betty White’s love for animals was well known, but her generosity toward the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was not.
>> Read more trending news
To honor the beloved actress, who died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 99, New Orleans will host a second line parade in the French Quarter on Jan. 17, which would have been her 100th birthday, WWL-TV reported.
Read More The event is being held by Santa T. Claus and Carl Mack Presents and will also serve as a fundraiser for animal rescues.
According to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas , located at the Mississippi River in New Orleans, White paid for a private plane to relocate the aquarium’s otters and penguins to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California after the powerful hurricane smashed into the Big Easy on Aug. 29, 2005.
>> Betty White dies at 99
“Audubon did not find out until after the trip that Betty White had paid for a portion of the trip,” Audubon Aquarium spokesperson Annie Matherne told WWL on Sunday. “Betty was a huge animal advocate and conservationist. She did not want any fanfare surrounding her part in the relocation; she just wanted to help how she could. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a true friend.”
Tom Dyer, who cared for the birds at the aquarium at the time, shared the story on Twitter after White’s death.
A GoFundMe page, called Birthday Bucks for Betty , has been set up to defray the cost of the parade, WWL reported.
> >>Betty White death: Movie special will still ‘go forward’ at theaters
Participants are invited to bring their pets, as well as a dog toy to donate, because of White’s reputation as an animal lover, according to the television station.
Betty White through the years A headshot portrait of American actor Betty White wearing a veiled hat, circa 1955. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Betty White through the years BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White in 1954 -- Photo by: Elmer Holloway/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years circa 1956: American actor Betty White sits in a canvas chair with her name written on the back, looking over her shoulder in a backyard garden. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - Portrait Shots - Aired on May 5, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - "Betty White Generic" - Airdate September 17, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - "Gallery- Betty White, Bill Williams" - Airdate June 1, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - Betty White & Bill Williams Sailing Date - Aired on September 6, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years (Original Caption) Betty White, television star is shown in this photograph. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - Betty White & Bill Williams Sailing Date - Aired on September 6, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - "Misc. Color" - Airdate September 22, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years DATE WITH THE ANGELS - "Misc. Color" - Airdate September 22, 1957. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years 75TH ANNUAL TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE -- Pictured: Host Betty White -- (Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Betty White through the years Publicity still of American actress Betty White, who plays Sue Ann Nivens on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' (also known as 'Mary Tyler Moore'), 1975. She wears a burgandy velvet jacket over a pink turtleneck sweater, and poses with her chin in the palm of her left hand. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Betty White through the years BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White -- Photo by: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years LOVE BOAT - "Two Grapes on the Vine/Aunt Sylvia/Deductible Divorce" which aired on October 17, 1981. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) BETTY WHITE (ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty)
Betty White through the years Betty White (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Betty White through the years THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- Season 1 -- Pictured: Betty White as Rose Nylund -- Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- Season 2 -- Pictured: (l-r) Betty White as Rose Nylund-- Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- Season 4 -- Pictured: Betty White as Rose Nylund -- Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- "Before and After" Episode 15 -- Pictured: Betty White as Rose Nylund (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years THE 38TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS -- Pictured: Betty White winner of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series NBC's "The Golden Girls" held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA on September 21, 1986 (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White through the years Betty White during 2003 Emmy Creative Arts Awards - Arrivals at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Betty White through the years Betty White during 2004 TV Land Awards airing March 17, 2004 - Red Carpet Arrivals at The Palladium in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Betty White through the years Betty White and Molly during Old Navy Nationwide Search for New Canine Mascot - April 29, 2006 at Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Ketchum Entertainment Marketing) (E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Ketchum Entertainm)
Betty White through the years NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Actress Betty White visits fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" at fuse Studios June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage) (Gary Gershoff/WireImage)
Betty White through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Actress and Co-Chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association Betty White hosts the media preview for the upcoming Beastly Ball fundraiser at the Los Angeles Zoo on June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage) (Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
Betty White through the years Actress Betty White attends the media preview for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's Beastly Ball fundraiser at Los Angeles Zoo on June 11, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval/WireImage) (Vincent Sandoval/WireImage)
Betty White through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: Actress Betty White attends The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's (GLAZA) 45th Annual Beastly Ball at the Los Angeles Zoo on June 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage) (Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
Betty White through the years TO TELL THE TRUTH - "Episode 102" - Comedian Iliza Shlesinger joins our celebrity panel to hilarious effect. In this episode we have one of the highest grossing Tupperware sales people who just happens to be a drag queen, shark attack survivors and somebody who jumps off buildings for a living. While on fire! "To Tell The Truth" Episode 102 Series Time-Period Premiere, Tuesday, June 14 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET). (Kelsey McNeal/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
BETTY WHITE (Kelsey McNeal /Walt Disney Television via Getty)