Rev. Mary Lee Downey

Rev. Mary Lee Downey is the CEO of Hope Partnership, Inc., a nonprofit she founded in 2012. Downey and the team at Hope Partnership provide services to those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Central Florida, empowering those they serve toward success and sustainability. In the last 11 years, they have served over 100,000 individuals. The organization has received many awards and recognitions, most notably from Bank of America, Walt Disney World, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Downey was recognized as 2025 Osceola County Person of the Year as well as 2019 Central Floridian of the Year, and in 2023 she was given the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award. Downey is currently focused on providing affordable housing to those in need, in partnership with private, public, and faith-based organizations. She is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church with a focus on missional outreach through social justice in nonprofit organizations. She is married to Martin, and together they are raising three amazing kids.