First high school friends, then college sweethearts at Duke University, Charlotte natives Sally and Russell Robinson fashioned a long and noteworthy marriage distinguished by servant leadership. The Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, the flagship program of Foundation For The Carolinas, bears the name of this remarkable couple in honor of their devotion to philanthropy and civic engagement.

“From the early days of our lives together, we’ve felt a growing sense of obligation to pay back to the city we love so much,” Russell said. Indeed, the Robinsons have given extraordinary time, treasure and leadership to our community.

The Robinsons’ charitable inclinations were largely influenced by their deepening realization of the privilege and status they enjoyed growing up in Charlotte, compared with others whose opportunities were limited by prejudices and societal barriers, particular among the city’s minority ethnic groups. They profess a profound appreciation for their service on nonprofit boards and committees as a means of enlightenment and to interact with, understand and befriend people of other ethnic and racial groups.

Sally experienced a life-altering calling to philanthropy – and had her first introduction to Charlotte’s black community – through Christ Episcopal Church, where she co-founded St. Francis Jobs, a training and mentoring program for at-risk high school students. Since then, she has derived immense satisfaction from her philanthropy for enabling her to forge relationships that might not otherwise have had the occasion and wherewithal to happen.

Russell brings to nonprofit boards the qualities he is regarded for in his law practice – reason, fairness, recognizing and valuing multiple points of view, and resolving differences. Among Russell’s many causes are the YMCA and United Way because he admires the extent of their reach into the community.

He has been a trustee and chairman at UNC Charlotte, and a board member and chair of the university’s foundation. A trustee of The Duke Endowment and a prior chair, he also chaired its healthcare and childcare divisions.

Sally’s civic service leaves virtually no sector untouched. She has served on the boards of the National Humanities Center, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and the President’s Council of Central Piedmont Community College. She was the founding chair of the Levine Museum of the New South and continues as chair emerita, and was vice chair of the Mint Museum of Art.  She served on the board of trustees of Duke University and chaired the school’s student affairs committee. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Arts & Science Council, McColl Center of Visual Arts, Women’s Intercultural Exchange and numerous other organizations have also benefited from Sally’s adept leadership.

The Robinson Center for Civic Leadership is located at FFTC’s headquarters at 220 North Tryon.

She has also served on the governing board of Foundation For The Carolinas, where she and Russell established the Robinson Donor Advised Fund in 1968. Sally was an integral player in the establishment of the Foundation’s flagship program, chairing the committee to explore the possibility of making civic leadership a core function of the Foundation. After the committee affirmed the need for such a program, the Center for Civic Leadership was formally launched in 2008.

The center addresses key challenges in the Charlotte area and designs initiatives that convene diverse groups around critical problems and issues. In 2011, Sally and Russell Robinson were honored by a $2 million contribution from a group of family, friends and colleagues to rename the program as the “Robinson Center for Civic Leadership.” The name now graces the plaza façade of the Foundation’s home in uptown Charlotte.

Together, the Robinsons have also been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Duke University and the Arch of Triumph Award from Johnson C. Smith University. Robinson Hall at UNC Charlotte was named for the couple. Sally was Charlotte’s Woman of the Year in 1998, and is also a recipient of UNC Charlotte’s Distinguished Service Award and the Arts and Science Council’s Lifetime Commitment Vanguard Award.  Russell received the YMCA John R. Mott Award and the Distinguished Public Service Award from North Carolina Citizens for Business & Industry.

The Robinsons hope to leave a legacy of crossing boundaries to connect people. Through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership and their countless other charitable endeavors, the dynamic partnership of Sally and Robinson will continue to foster a diverse, connected and engaged philanthropic community.