Passionate, regal and utterly legendary, philanthropist Betty Chen, our October cover star, takes home the Tatler Diamond Award tonight
When she was just a little girl, Betty Chen, our October cover star, would watch as her mother, May Wong, went to the docks to receive ships that arrived from China. The ships would typically be filled with a mix of passengers coming into Singapore as well as young girls who had been sold as slaves by their poor parents in China. Her mother and her friends would take these young girls and look after them while also teaching them how to sew, embroider and earn a living for themselves.
Inspired by her mother’s philanthropic efforts and the difference she was making within the community, Chen was eager to follow in her mother’s service and that was the beginning of a life spent volunteering and raising millions for the less fortunate.
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The mother-daughter duo’s most notable credentials are, without a doubt, their decades‑long reign at the CWA. Founded in Singapore in 1915, the CWA was the first of its kind led by local women, with the aim of promoting and raising funds for the less fortunate and the deserving within the community.
Chen served as president of CWA in 1990, serving for 26 years until 2016.
Under her leadership, CWA raised millions of dollars for organisations and social causes, including the St Andrew’s Mission Hospital, NTUC Eldercare and National Museum of Singapore.
CWA also reached a milestone of 100 years of service in 2015 with Chen, who is also the patron emeritus of nursing residence Henderson Home, at the helm.
For her lifelong dedication to serving the community and commitment to philanthropy, Tatler Singapore is proud to present the devoted family woman with the Tatler Diamond Award tonight at our annual Tatler Ball.
