You’re invited to a truly special evening of live music and powerful storytelling with Grammy Award-winning songwriters Marla Cannon, Brice Long, and Phillip White — the talented creators behind hits for George Strait, Reba McEntire, Josh Turner, and Garth Brooks.
Join us at our Annual Leaders & Legends Gala, benefiting The Mission of Yahweh, and supporting women and children experiencing homelessness right here in Houston.
Enjoy inspiring songs, personal stories from the artists, and moving testimonies of women whose lives have been transformed through your generosity.
We’re grateful for your support and excited to share this special evening with you!
Benny & Nichole Agosto
Benny and Nichole Agosto are dedicated community leaders and philanthropists. Benny, born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico, is Managing Partner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer, and a former NCAA Division I soccer player. He has served as President of both the Houston Bar Association, its first native Spanish-speaking president, and the Hispanic National Bar Association, founding multiple scholarship programs and diversity initiatives.
Nichole, born in Fort Hood, Texas, is a University of Houston honors graduate in Education who serves on the boards of Cy-Hope, the MABATx Foundation, and as President of FABLE (Friends of the Aldine Library). Together, they have funded millions in scholarships, including the $4 million Agosto Justice Center and the HBU Scholarship for Single Mothers, and support numerous local and national causes.
The Agosto’s have four children—Ben III, Matthew, Jon, and Victoria, and are passionate about education, community service, and empowering future leaders.
“I’m blessed to be able to make a difference in today’s world,” Agosto says. “I put everything I have into learning and challenging myself, to love and support my family, and to help better my community. Change can begin in your own community, but when you reach out to other communities, you can change the world, one act of kindness at a time.”
Rose Cullen
Rosanette Saragusa Cullen is truly honored and humbled to be celebrated as a Legendary Honoree by the Mission of Yahweh, an organization whose mission reflects the very values she holds dear.
Rose’s early years were rooted in faith and community. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from St. Agnes Academy, where she formed lifelong friendships and was deeply influenced by the guidance of the nuns who instilled in her the values of dignity, kindness, and grace.
“Be kind to everyone”—a simple lesson, but one that Rose has carried with her through every chapter of her life.
She continued her education at the University of Houston, an experience she often recalls as one of the most exciting and formative times in her life. There, she met people from across the country and the world, joined Chi Omega as part of the first Panhellenic sorority group on campus, and stepped foot for the first time into the Cullen Auditorium—not knowing that her path would eventually intertwine so deeply with the Cullen legacy.
It was during a fundraising event for Frontier Fiesta, in a moment of youthful fun and fate, that she met Harry Holmes Cullen. Rose had been asked to participate in a charity date auction, and when she stepped out dressed in western attire, Harry placed the highest bid. That evening sparked a connection that would blossom into a life-changing love story. In June 1957, Harry and Rose were married.
Together, they built a life rooted in love, family, and service. Their home in Houston and their cherished ranch house on the Laguna Madre became places of gathering, joy, and tradition. They raised two children—Harry Holmes Cullen Jr., who married Katie Earthman, and Katherine Ann Cullen, who married Joseph Dietrich McCord. The joy of six grandchildren followed, and now Rose is the proud great-grandmother to six more—four boys and two girls—each one a bright light in their legacy.
Sidney Faust
Sidney Faust was born in Longview, Texas. She attended Kilgore Junior College where she was a member of the Kilgore College Rangerettes, member of the elite dance group, the Swingsters, Homecoming Queen, and twice a beauty. She completed her education at North Texas University, majoring in speech and drama. She was a member of the College Players, Supper Theatre, Angel Flight, Alpha Phi sorority, and a College Beauty.
Sidney was married to Don Faust, owner of Faust Distributing Company, who passed away in 2021. They lived in Baytown and were active in numerous civic affairs. Upon their move to Houston they quickly became active in a number of charitable organizations
Sidney and her best friend, Cora Sue Mach chaired many events and became known as “the dynamic duo”. Chairing the Winter Ball and first Chic boutique are two of their favorites. For twenty-one years they hosted an extravaganza of a Halloween party, collecting toys for the children at Texas Children Cancer Center and then hosting an entertaining Christmas party for the patients. In addition, she was the co-founder and is co- chair of the Salute to Champions Event for Texas Children’s Hospital.
Sidney has been honored many times. Some of the honors include: Woman of Distinction, Ambassador for the Winter Ball, the spirit of Excellence by the Huffington Center, Honoree for the Salvation Army Reflection on Style Event, Houston Treasure by the Social Book, a Woman of Substance, the Ben Taub Award, the Hope and Healing honoree, the National Philanthropy Day Award, the Angel Award for the PetSet Soiree, Youth of the Year award for the Salvation Army and an Honoree for the Mission of Yahweh Leaders and Legends gala.
Sidney and Don’s happiest, most memorable and proudest accomplishments are the 75 retreats held at their Squirrel Creek Ranch for the young patients with cancer and their families.
Winell Herron
H-E-B Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs
A native of Austin, Winell Herron has made Houston her home for more than a decade leading H-E-B’s public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs initiatives throughout Texas and Mexico. She also directs the company’s philanthropic efforts to support hunger relief, education, disaster relief, the arts, sustainability and more.
Winell actively serves the community through her role on numerous boards. She currently serves on the MD Anderson Board of Visitors Membership and Governance Committee and is also a Member of the Officer’s Committee. She is a Board Member with the American Cancer Society Houston, Houston Equity Fund, Ensemble Theatre, March of Dimes, Texas Cultural Trust, and the Houston Museum of African American Culture. She serves as a trustee for the Houston Ballet and is also a Texas Lyceum Alumnus and a member of the Houston Chapter of Links, Inc.
Winell holds a B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, completed the Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California and received an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Along with making a positive impact in the community, Winell’s other personal passions include her family, friends, traveling, technology, and music. Winell and her husband William (Doug), reside in Houston.
Chairs
We’re honored to introduce the extraordinary women helping bring this special evening to life, our dedicated event chairs:
Leila Perrin
Cynthia Wolff
Beth Wolff
Honorary Chairs
We’re honored to introduce the extraordinary women helping bring this special evening to life, our dedicated honorary chairs:
Jody Merritt
Christine Johnson
