Lily Foster
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Ms. Foster is a community volunteer and mental health advocate who was a well-known leading actress in the People’s Republic of China in the 1970’s and 1980’s. She starred in nearly two dozen films and was a household name.
In the mid-1980’s Ms. Foster immigrated to the U.S. and earned her Master’s Degree in Drama from the University of Houston, under the famed Sydney Berger. After meeting and marrying Charles Foster, a renowned immigration and human rights lawyer, she settled here and has been devoted to her family ever since.
After her sons went off to college a few years ago, Ms. Foster became more involved in civic affairs. She chaired the Asian Chamber of Commerce gala and helped raise a large amount of funds. In addition to The Harris Center Foundation, she serves on the board of the Houston Galveston Institute; the Advisory Board of Asian Society Texas Center; and the University of Houston Board of Visitors. In 2014 she was recognized by Houston Woman Magazine as one of Houston’s Most Influential Women of that year.
Advocating for mental health is one of Foster's most heartfelt pursuits. "When I found out my father had cancer a few years ago, I was very sad and a little depressed. My personal experience led me to realize that mental health is very important," she said. "I have read a lot of books on mental health. I learned so much about it that I feel like almost an expert on the subject. I am determined to continue working on this."