Methodist Welfare Services launches its first endowment fund with late doctor’s S$2 million gift

Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) has launched the first-ever endowment fund by a social service agency in Singapore. The MWS Endowment Fund (MEF) was started with a founding contribution of S$2 million from the estate of the late Dr Ong Yong Wan, a prominent Singaporean medical doctor, to provide long-term support for MWS beneficiaries and programmes. […] The post Methodist Welfare Services launches its first endowment fund with late doctor’s S$2 million gift appeared first on Salt&Light.

Religion Apr 3, 2026 0 10 Add to Reading List

Methodist Welfare Services launches its first endowment fund with late doctor’s S$2 million gift

Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) has launched the first-ever endowment fund by a social service agency in Singapore.

The MWS Endowment Fund (MEF) was started with a founding contribution of S$2 million from the estate of the late Dr Ong Yong Wan, a prominent Singaporean medical doctor, to provide long-term support for MWS beneficiaries and programmes.

An endowment fund is a pool of money that an organisation – in this case, MWS – invests long-term. To make the fund sustainable, only the investment returns are used as a funding source, while the principal amount remains untouched.

Eugene Toh, Chairperson of MWS’ Board of Governance, said: “As the first social service agency in Singapore to establish an endowment fund, we hope it also sets a model for sustainable, long-term support for communities for generations to come.”

The Fund was unveiled on March 27 at the MWS Colours of Love Charity Gala 2026, which also marked MWS’ 45th anniversary.

Some S$670,000 was also raised during the event, which will go towards beneficiaries across its centres, providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles for its nursing home residents, and therapy sessions for youth.

Leaving a lasting legacy

The late Dr Ong Yong Wan was the founding head of haematology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) who led the country’s first bone marrow transplant in 1985.

Under her leadership, the SGH transplant programme grew into a national centre of excellence, with thousands of transplants and a reputation for setting the standard for haematological care in the region.

Dr Ong was also regular visitor of a MWS nursing home in Yew Tee. During Christmas, she would give presents to the residents there.

With her husband Henry Chia, she often went on medical missions to Vietnam, Nepal and China in the past two decades. They went to Nepal alone 15 times, helping hundreds of villagers receive medical care.

Dr Ong on a medical mission in Nepal. Photo courtesy of Henry Chia.

(Second from right) The late Dr Ong and her husband in Nepal. Photo courtesy of Henry Chia.

Dr Ong passed away in July 2025 at the age of 87.

A platform for legacy giving

As the executor of her estate, Dr Ong’s husband signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the gala to formalise the MEF, so that her legacy of giving can continue to benefit seniors, children, youths and families supported by MWS.

The MEF aims to be a platform for legacy giving and will accept donations starting at S$250,000. Gifts will be pooled and invested according to MWS’ investment policy.

The Fund is governed by the organisation’s Investment Committee. Allocations will be approved by the MWS Board of Governance, which will ensure accountability and transparency in their use, said MWS.

Initiatives that will benefit from this fund include MWS’ Family Development Programme, a debt-relief and savings initiative designed to support families in the bottom 20 per cent income group.

“We are deeply grateful to Mr Chia and to the memory of Dr Ong for their generosity and love,” said Mr Toh, Chairperson of MWS’ Board of Governance.

“The needs in our community are real. This gift will enable MWS to innovate and fund new programmes so that we can serve those who need it most, steadily and sustainably.”