Who We Are

Our Mission

"To serve children and adults with special needs so that they may develop a sense of dignity, a feeling of self-worth, and the skills necessary to socially integrate with and contribute to the community in which they live."

About The Mary Lee Foundation

The Mary Lee Foundation, founded in 1963 by Charlene Crump, inspires and involves persons with disabilities through programs, advocacy, and education.  Today, the Mary Lee Foundation is as strong as ever, continually adding or expanding new programs and services, and expanding our reach to the disabled across our nation.  We are a community of people from all walks of life with the passion to help the less fortunate and to provide care and compassion to all we serve.

The Mary Lee Foundation is a private, non-profit service provider, specializing in residential treatment and vocational services for persons with disabilities.  It is governed by a Board of Directors whose members are actively involved with the organization.  The Mary Lee Foundation pioneered the initiative to de-institutionalize and, therefore normalize the lives of mentally retarded clients from state schools giving them the opportunity to live, learn, and work in the community.

Charlene Crump – Executive Director and Founder of Mary Lee Foundation is still very active and very much in charge at Mary Lee Foundation.  She provides overall supervision of the affordable housing program and physical maintenance of property and is also Administrator of the Mary Lee Foundation Rehabilitation Center that provides the services to adult survivors of brain injury.

Don Lilljedahl - Director of the Mary Lee Foundation started working with Charlene in 1969.  After receiving his Masters Degree in Social Work in 1966, Don spent 3 years working as a social worker at the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio, Texas.  In 1969, he became the Director of the Mary Lee Foundation and is also still very active in the day to day operations of the foundaton.

Charlene and Don have been recognized for their contributions to children and the disabled by Governor Preston Smith, Lt. Governor Bill Hobby, Governor Bill Clements, Comptroller Carole Strayhorn and most recently by Governor Rick Perry and President George W. Bush.  Charlene was awarded the Governor’s Committee on Disabilities outstanding person of the year award in 2001, and in 2002 Don was awarded the Martha Arbuckle Meritorious Service Award from the Austin Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities.

Mary Lee Foundation Board Members - 2008