About Mary Lee Foundation
We offer a full range of progressive neurological, orthopedic and special needs services.
Our mission
To serve adults with diverse needs so that they may develop a sense of dignity, a sense of self-worth, and the skills necessary to socially integrate with and contribute to the community in which they live.
Our history
Mary Lee School opened its doors in 1963 in a modest
2-bedroom home in South Austin. The rest is history.
Meet the board
Bill Hartman
ChairmanAfter an extensive and multi-faceted career in finance, Bill retired from Merrill Lynch and in 2002 moved from New York City to Austin with his wife Marilyn and son John. John shortly afterwards moved into Mary Lee, where he was a resident of Southpointe for nearly 20 years. Bill attends numerous lectures at U.T. and other venues, studies finance and public affairs, and enjoys art.
Mike Peays
Vice-ChairmanMike is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines. He spent 30 years working as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. He has been married to his wife Margie for 50 years and has 3 adult children and 10 grandchildren. Mike is the guardian of his sister who lives here at the Mary Lee Foundation. He serves on the Board from a keen sense of gratitude and appreciation for the mission and the legacy of the Mary Lee Foundation. Mike is privileged to serve on the Board.
Joyce Pulich
SecretaryJoyce was an adjunct instructor in Sociology at Austin Community College for over 30 years. She was the Financial Manager for the City of Austin for many years. Joyce is a huge advocate for adults with learning disabilities.
Don Jones
MemberDon is a retired computer industry program manager. He specialized in service readiness/delivery life-cycle process development and implementation. Don is also a U.S. Navy Vietnam era veteran. He has lived at the Mary Lee Foundation for 6 years and is a very active volunteer on the square.
Lynda Tran
MemberLynda is a proud second generation Vietnamese American. She is a software QA manager and uses her 10+ years in the tech industry to find better and more efficient ways of doing things and most importantly, to guide and grow people. She believes each person has a full, unique story.
Judy Kegg
MemberJudy Kegg has been a volunteering in the Austin area for many years in the mental health field and has advocated for family members both past and present living at Mary Lee Foundation. Her passion for helping others comes through personally and professionally through her 25 year massage and aquatic therapy practice. Judy is happy to have the opportunity to serve on the board and looks forward to helping guide our growing community.
Susan Johnson
MemberSusan is a professional artist. After raising three children, she taught high school art for 23 years before retiring. She and Wayne Johnson, her husband of 45 years, moved their daughter Abby into a group home at the Mary Lee Foundation in 2009. She and Wayne have been passionate volunteers and advocates for Mary Lee for many years.
Leigh Dunson
MemberLeigh is a native Texan and has lived in the Austin area her whole life. She has a Psychology degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown. She has a furry son, Georgie (a pug) and owns a pet sitting business so it feels like she has hundreds of pets! Previously, she worked at Mary Lee Foundation for almost 20 years. She started working at Mary Lee fresh out of college working direct support, then did case management for 5 years. She worked for the state as an IDD program surveyor for a bit and came back to Mary Lee and directed the IDD section for 14 years. She also loves traveling, music, gardening, biking and hiking. She is excited about being able to stay connected with the amazing people at Mary Lee again by serving on the board.
Bill Hartman
ChairmanAfter an extensive and multi-faceted career in finance, Bill retired from Merrill Lynch and in 2002 moved from New York City to Austin with his wife Marilyn and son John. John shortly afterwards moved into Mary Lee, where he was a resident of Southpointe for nearly 20 years. Bill attends numerous lectures at U.T. and other venues, studies finance and public affairs, and enjoys art.
Mike Peays
Vice-ChairmanMike is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines. He spent 30 years working as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. He has been married to his wife Margie for 50 years and has 3 adult children and 10 grandchildren. Mike is the guardian of his sister who lives here at the Mary Lee Foundation. He serves on the Board from a keen sense of gratitude and appreciation for the mission and the legacy of the Mary Lee Foundation. Mike is privileged to serve on the Board.
Joyce Pulich
SecretaryJoyce was an adjunct instructor in Sociology at Austin Community College for over 30 years. She was the Financial Manager for the City of Austin for many years. Joyce is a huge advocate for adults with learning disabilities.
Don Jones
MemberDon is a retired computer industry program manager. He specialized in service readiness/delivery life-cycle process development and implementation. Don is also a U.S. Navy Vietnam era veteran. He has lived at the Mary Lee Foundation for 6 years and is a very active volunteer on the square.
Liza Ruiz
MemberLiza has lived at the Mary Lee Foundation for almost 2 years. She is retired from the banking industry and has four children in the Austin area. Liza works with the children at her church in Buda and is an active volunteer on the square.
Lynda Tran
MemberLynda is a proud second generation Vietnamese American. She is a software QA manager and uses her 10+ years in the tech industry to find better and more efficient ways of doing things and most importantly, to guide and grow people. She believes each person has a full, unique story.
Judy Kegg
MemberJudy Kegg has been a volunteering in the Austin area for many years in the mental health field and has advocated for family members both past and present living at Mary Lee Foundation. Her passion for helping others comes through personally and professionally through her 25 year massage and aquatic therapy practice. Judy is happy to have the opportunity to serve on the board and looks forward to helping guide our growing community.
Susan Johnson
MemberSusan is a professional artist. After raising three children, she taught high school art for 23 years before retiring. She and Wayne Johnson, her husband of 45 years, moved their daughter Abby into a group home at the Mary Lee Foundation in 2009. She and Wayne have been passionate volunteers and advocates for Mary Lee for many years.
Leigh Dunson
MemberLeigh is a native Texan and has lived in the Austin area her whole life. She has a Psychology degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown. She has a furry son, Georgie (a pug) and owns a pet sitting business so it feels like she has hundreds of pets! Previously, she worked at Mary Lee Foundation for almost 20 years. She started working at Mary Lee fresh out of college working direct support, then did case management for 5 years. She worked for the state as an IDD program surveyor for a bit and came back to Mary Lee and directed the IDD section for 14 years. She also loves traveling, music, gardening, biking and hiking. She is excited about being able to stay connected with the amazing people at Mary Lee again by serving on the board.
Leadership
Russ Walker
Executive DirectorStarting in January 2022, Russ took over the helm as the Executive Director for the Mary Lee Foundation. Russ holds a B.S. degree in International Business Management, a Master’s degree in Counseling, is a LPC-A and brings over 30 years of experience in finance, business, non-profit and leadership development. Russ has been married to his wife Courtney, a certified financial planner for 31 years. He has four adult children, Mackenzie, Madison, Landon and Sheldon. Russ also has two grandchild, Brodie and Carsten. An avid reader, Russ likes to play tennis and pickleball, cook and travel.
Fran Rodda
Director of FinanceFran is a graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. She began working with the Mary Lee Foundation in 2007 as a Bookkeeper at the Southpointe program and the Central Office. Since then, she has been involved with the many aspects of the accounting department, compliance with State and Federal regulations and reporting, appropriation of donations and oversight of grant expenditures.
Velma Hernandez-Mercer
Director of Human ResourcesVelma started working for the Mary Lee Foundation in 2000 and was promoted to Human Resources/Office Manager in 2012. She worked at Austin Travis County/MHMR (now called Integral Care) for 10 years before coming to Mary Lee. She loves spending time with her husband of 20 plus years, her son, Caeden and their 3 furry babies.
William Whitley
Director of FleetWilliam joined the Mary Lee Foundation in 2019. Prior to joining us, William was the Property Manager for the Round Rock Housing Authority, before that he was the Property Manager for the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. William moved to Austin as the Senior Pastor for the Pilgrim Rest Primitive Bible Church in 2008. He is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie School for Public Speaking, has been married for 48 years, has 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren!
Tisha Gilmore
Director of Intermediate Care FacilitiesTisha received her Bachelor’s Degree from Argosy University, and is currently working on her Master’s Degree. Prior to joining the Mary Lee Foundation in 2022, Tisha worked as a Life Skills Teacher for Third Future Charter School. She also previously worked as a QIDP for at Mary Lee Foundation in 2017. A native of Austin, Texas, Tisha loves cooking and music. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Larry Franklin
Director of Home and Community ServicesLarry is a graduate of Central Texas College where he received an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Law Enforcement technology. He is also a graduate of Ashford University were he received a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Criminal Justice in 2010. Prior to working at MLF Larry worked at the Austin transitional Center as the Assistant Facility Director until May 2024. Larry is a native of Austin and is married and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Jayme Peralez
Director of NursingJayme has been dedicated to working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) since 2009, starting her career as a direct care staff member. She has since transitioned through various roles in healthcare, initially serving as a pharmacy technician before advancing through the LVN and RN programs at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, graduating in 2016 and 2017, respectively. For the past six years, Jayme has worked as a registered nurse in the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) settings. Originally from Texas, she is passionate about art, particularly photography, and has exhibited her work in galleries across the United States and Europe. In addition to her professional pursuits, Jayme enjoys playing tennis and engaging in activities with her two young daughters, Daisy and Birdie, who are 3 and 4 years old.
Russ Walker
Executive DirectorStarting in January 2022, Russ took over the helm as the Executive Director for the Mary Lee Foundation. Russ holds a B.S. degree in International Business Management, a Master’s degree in Counseling, is a LPC-A and brings over 30 years of experience in finance, business, non-profit and leadership development. Russ has been married to his wife Courtney, a certified financial planner for 31 years. He has four adult children, Mackenzie, Madison, Landon and Sheldon. Russ also has two grandchild, Brodie and Carsten. An avid reader, Russ likes to play tennis and pickleball, cook and travel.
Fran Rodda
Director of FinanceFran is a graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. She began working with the Mary Lee Foundation in 2007 as a Bookkeeper at the Southpointe program and the Central Office. Since then, she has been involved with the many aspects of the accounting department, compliance with State and Federal regulations and reporting, appropriation of donations and oversight of grant expenditures.
Velma Hernandez-Mercer
Director of Human ResourcesVelma started working for the Mary Lee Foundation in 2000 and was promoted to Human Resources/Office Manager in 2012. She worked at Austin Travis County/MHMR (now called Integral Care) for 10 years before coming to Mary Lee. She loves spending time with her husband of 20 plus years, her son, Caeden and their 3 furry babies.
William Whitley
Director of FleetWilliam joined the Mary Lee Foundation in 2019. Prior to joining us, William was the Property Manager for the Round Rock Housing Authority, before that he was the Property Manager for the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. William moved to Austin as the Senior Pastor for the Pilgrim Rest Primitive Bible Church in 2008. He is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie School for Public Speaking, has been married for 48 years, has 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren!
Tisha Gilmore
Director of Intermediate Care FacilitiesTisha received her Bachelor’s Degree from Argosy University, and is currently working on her Master’s Degree. Prior to joining the Mary Lee Foundation in 2022, Tisha worked as a Life Skills Teacher for Third Future Charter School. She also previously worked as a QIDP for at Mary Lee Foundation in 2017. A native of Austin, Texas, Tisha loves cooking and music. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Larry Franklin
Director of Home and Community ServicesLarry is a graduate of Central Texas College where he received an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Law Enforcement technology. He is also a graduate of Ashford University were he received a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Criminal Justice in 2010. Prior to working at MLF Larry worked at the Austin transitional Center as the Assistant Facility Director until May 2024. Larry is a native of Austin and is married and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Jayme Peralez
Director of NursingJayme has been dedicated to working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) since 2009, starting her career as a direct care staff member. She has since transitioned through various roles in healthcare, initially serving as a pharmacy technician before advancing through the LVN and RN programs at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, graduating in 2016 and 2017, respectively. For the past six years, Jayme has worked as a registered nurse in the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) settings. Originally from Texas, she is passionate about art, particularly photography, and has exhibited her work in galleries across the United States and Europe. In addition to her professional pursuits, Jayme enjoys playing tennis and engaging in activities with her two young daughters, Daisy and Birdie, who are 3 and 4 years old.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Mary Lee Foundation complies with the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. People who are eligible to participate in the programs at Mary Lee Foundation are not discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or political belief.
Liza has lived at the Mary Lee Foundation for almost 2 years. She is retired from the banking industry and has four children in the Austin area. Liza works with the children at her church in Buda and is an active volunteer on the square.