Doctor's $2M Gift Launches Legacy Fund for Singapore Charity

Dr. Ong Yong Wan visited the same nursing home every December for seven years, bringing choir singers and Christmas presents to residents who lit up at her arrival. Now, even after her passing, the pioneering Singapore doctor continues to spread joy through a $2 million donation that will support vulnerable families for decades to come.

The gift established Methodist Welfare Services' first-ever endowment fund, a permanent pool of money where only the investment returns get spent while the original amount stays intact. It's a financial tool that transforms a one-time donation into perpetual support for people in need.

Dr. Ong, who led Singapore's first bone marrow transplant in 1985 and headed the nation's pioneering blood donation service, died peacefully in her sleep at age 87 in July 2025. Before her passing, she planned to give about $20 million of her estate to medical causes, charities, and relatives.

Her husband Henry Chia, 92, formalized the $2 million donation at a March 27 charity gala in Singapore. The retired civil servant described his wife as someone who poured her whole heart into helping others, yet lived frugally so more money could go toward charitable work.

The couple had no children but owned multiple properties. Dr. Ong deliberately kept expenses low throughout their lives, knowing those savings would eventually reach people who needed help most.

The Ripple Effect

The endowment fund will support programs that don't receive government funding, like debt relief for low-income families and education bursaries for disadvantaged students. Methodist Welfare Services can now plan long-term initiatives they previously couldn't sustain through regular fundraising alone.

During their retirement years, Dr. Ong and her husband traveled on medical mission trips to Vietnam, Nepal, and China. She treated villagers who had limited access to healthcare while he taught Christian-based lessons, continuing their pattern of quiet service away from public attention.

Mr. Chia said even close friends didn't know the full extent of his wife's charitable work. She preferred staying behind the scenes, letting her actions speak louder than any recognition.

The endowment accepts donations starting at $250,000, creating a platform for others to leave lasting legacies. An investment committee will manage the fund conservatively, with full transparency in annual reports.

The same gala that announced Dr. Ong's gift also raised $670,000 for immediate needs like wheelchair-accessible vehicles and youth therapy programs, proving that her generosity inspired others to give.

Seven Christmases of nursing home visits became a lifetime of impact for countless people Dr. Ong will never meet.