Betty Up!

And now I'm proposing that the inimitable Ms. White also is a teacher with valuable lessons for fundraisers and other folks involved in branding and communications for nonprofits.

Whether she's canoodling in the kitchen as the oversexed Sue Ann Nivens on "Mary Tyler Moore," telling the story of Uncle Hansengruten and the one-eyed milk cow on "The Golden Girls," getting to second base with Sandra Bullock in "The Proposal," or calling Sarah Palin a … well, you know … on Craig Ferguson's talk show, she is always, unfailingly Betty White — sassy, charming, gracious, flirtatious, quick as a whip, sharp as a tack and delightfully bawdy. In short, Betty has perfected the delicate art of remaining true to her brand while at the same time expanding it into every possible nook and cranny. As a result, her popularity spans generations and cuts across every segment of American life. And her career is as hot as ever — if not hotter.