In 1980, Mac Legerton and his wife Donna Chavis, co‑founded the Center for Community Action. The mission of the Center is to organize and empower individuals, families, communities, institutions, and systems to join together and improve the quality of life and the equality of life in Robeson County and southeastern North Carolina.
In his 35th year as executive director, Legerton talks about how sabbaticals provide a way for nonprofit leaders to rediscover the depth of motivation and commitment that is easy to lose when they get burned out, or what he coins, or burned up, as well as the creativity that is needed to make their work both more effective and successful. Legerton was selected for a ZSR sabbatical in 1990, which was the first year of the Foundation’s program.