A native of Longview, Texas, Sidney Faust graduated from Longview High School and attended Kilgore Junior College, where she was a member of the famous Rangerettes drill team, Homecoming Queen, and a Ranger Beauty. After graduating from Kilgore with honors, Sidney majored in speech and drama at the University of North Texas, where she was a Yucca Beauty and a member of Alpha Phi, College Players Supper Theatre, and Angels Flight. After graduating from the University of North Texas, Sidney did graduate work at the University of Colorado and went on to teach school in Odessa, Fort Worth, Spring Branch, and Baytown. In Baytown, where she lived for several years, Sidney was active in community affairs and served on the Lee College Foundation board.

 

In 1972, Sidney married Don Faust, owner of Faust Distributing Company. When they moved to Houston, Sidney and Don became vital members of the community donating their time and energy to many cultural and charitable organizations.

 

A charter member of BRASS (Baylor Research Advocates for Student Scientists), which is dedicated to raising scholarship funds for research medical students, Sidney served as chairman of the Scholarship Selection committee. Along with her husband, Sidney received the BRASS Angel Award in 1997. In 2005, the couple were the honorary chairs for the BRASS Tea and Toddies event. They have also hosted many BRASS Christmas parties in their home.

 

As the president of Friends of Crohn’s & Colitis for four years, Sidney spearheaded the Chron’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Children’s Art Calendar, the first CCFA Pacesetters Walk, the Quilt of Hope, and the Second Bench of Hope. In appreciation for her dedication to the organization, Sidney received the 2001 Volunteer of the Year Award for Education at the Crohn’s & Colitis Gold Key Award dinner and the Board Member of the Year Award in 2002.

 

Through her affiliation with the Winter Ball, Sidney chaired the 2002 ball, A Celtic Celebration . . . A Gathering of the Clans. In 2003, she was named an ABC Channel 11 Woman of Distinction and was presented with the honor at that year’s Winter Ball. In 2013, she was the Winter Ball’s ambassador.

 

Sidney has had a long-standing association with the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. She served as secretary of its executive committee in 2005 and as chaplain from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2016 to 2017. In 2008, she was co-chaplain with Judi McGee.

 

Other of Sidney’s affiliations include: being president of the River Oaks Rose Club and chair of its Flower Show and Tea in 2005; being a past board member of the Huffington Center on Aging, the Shepherd School of Music, and the BARC Foundation board; and being a current member of the Salvation Army advisory board, the Alley Theatre advisory board, and the Texas Children Cancer Center advisory board. In 2016, Sidney and Don cochaired the inaugural BARC Gala with Mayor Annise Parker. The following year, they cochaired  the “BARC on Broadway” Gala with Elsie Eckert, and in 2018, they served as honorary chairs for the Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research Dinner.

 

Sidney and her husband have received numerous recognitions for their philanthropic work. A sample of these includes: receiving the Cancer League’s 2007 Heart of Houston award; being selected as a Houston Treasure by the Social Book; being honored, along with their dogs, Sabrina and Spencer, at the Citizens for Animal Protection Gala; receiving the Ben Taub Award; being named Honorary Champions for the Celebration of Champions.

 

As thanks for her service to Houston, Sidney has received the honor of Angel for the Mission of Yahweh, been the honoree at the Hope and Healing Luncheon, and been named a Distinguished Alumna by the Longview Independent School District.

 

In 1999, Sidney and her dear friend Cora Sue Mach cochaired the Houston Symphony League Maestro Luncheon. It was the beginning of an important liaison, turning the friends into a successful team for chairing events. Subsequently, they have gone on to chair the Women’s Health Summit, sponsored by the Huffington Center on Aging, for which they received the Spirit of Excellence Award; chair the Houston Preservation Alliance Board Gold Brick Dinner; join the Steering Committee for the then newly formed Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and cochair the first Chic Boutique for the organization’s Reflections on Styles Fashion Show and Luncheon; chair the Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine gala; and cochair the River Oaks Rose Club Flower Show and Tea. In 2020, the friends will be honorary chairs for the 2020 Winter Ball. 

 

One of Houston’s most celebrated annual events is the Halloween party Sidney and Cora Sue put on together. Not only is it fun, the party also serves a serious purpose. At the behest of the hosts, guests come bearing the gift of a toy, which, once all the toys are collected, becomes part of the centerpiece for the Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Christmas party. Underwritten by Sidney and Cora Sue, the fête features a magician, a face painter, puppet penguins, a scrumptious feast, and, of course, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

 

As is evident, Sidney is a woman with drive who has accomplished much for Houston. Of those accomplishments, there is none more important to her than the Squirrel Creek Ranch cancer retreats she created with Don in 1998. Upon meeting young cancer patients from Texas Children’s Cancer Center, while receiving the Pacesetters of the Year Award at the Cancer League Luncheon, the couple resolved to do something for them at their ranch. The first retreat, which embraced the entire family and provided a respite from the daily struggle of coping with cancer or a blood disorder, began a tradition that comprised 75 retreats and lasted for 17 years.

 

Sidney and Don’s devotion to Texas Children’s Cancer Center led them to make a substantial donation to the center, resulting in the Don and Sidney Faust Infusion Center. Sidney went on to cochair, with Dr. Scott Basinger, Judi McGee, and Elsie Eckert the Celebration of Champions Luncheon, which raises funds for the center’s Long-Term Survivor Program.

 

In 2018, Sidney was named a Woman of Substance. That same year, she was honored at the 2018 National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. Her devotion to the causes she cares about knows no bounds.

 

It is for all the reasons mentioned above, and many more, that Sidney Faust has been named a Top 20 Inspiring Woman Impact Maker for 2020.