Couple Uses Donor Advised Fund to Establish Lenora Borchardt Spay Neuter Center

Before giving to the animal league of Gaston County, Michael and Lenora Borchardt did their “research” on the organization … by adopting four dogs from the animal care group. Their familiarity with the Animal League made it an easy decision to donate toward the expansion and relocation of an existing spay neuter clinic to downtown Gastonia.

Using funds from the Michael and Lenora Borchardt Family Foundation – a donor advised fund with FFTC’s subsidiary, the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community – the couple made possible the Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic Lenora Borchardt Center. The gift from the Borchardts was in support of the couple’s belief in rescue and adoption for all family pets.

“We are honored to provide the lead gift to expand and permanently locate the clinic in downtown Gastonia, our home of many years,” said Lenora, adding the clinic was originally supposed to be named after Michael, also, but he graciously withdrew because he felt the name would be too long. FFTC helped negotiate the naming gift.

The Animal League of Gaston County works with organizations in seven counties. The clinic has also received support from the George P. Patterson Family Fund at Foundation For The Carolinas.

The Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic Lenora Borchardt Center opened in June 2017. In 2021, the facility passed the 60,000 surgery milestone. Terry Kenny, executive director of the clinic, helped facilitate the gift and praised the Borchardts for their generosity and support.

“The Borchardts have been our rocks for more than 10 years, and for many years, they donated without any desire for recognition,” Kenny said. “Before they made their first donation, nearly all animals entering the shelter were euthanatized, there were hardly any rescues and all of the rescuers paid the vet fees out of their pockets. They changed the entire landscape of animal welfare in Gaston County.”

Contact us to learn more about FFTC Donor Advised Funds and how you can support the causes you value most.