The Chao Family: A Vision of Service and Leadership
The story of the Chao family in many ways encapsulates the essence of the American dream. Coming to the United States with roots in China, they have established themselves throughout the various sectors of American life, becoming leaders in business, public service, and philanthropy.
The Chao Family Story
In their rise to success, the Chao family encountered many obstacles along the way. Dr. James S.C. Chao and his late wife Mrs. Ruth Mulan Chu Chao grew up in mainland China in the pre-Chinese Civil War era before the conflict forced them to leave to Taiwan. Dr. Chao found his start at sea. Recognized for his exceptional talent, he became the youngest seafaring captain in the merchant marines at the tender age of 29. Then in 1958, Dr. Chao went on to break national records in the Republic of China by achieving the highest recorded result on the Master Mariner Examination. Seeking an opportunity for a better life for his family, Dr. Chao moved on his own to New York. Mrs. Chao and their three oldest daughters joined him in the U.S. three years later. In 1964, Dr. Chao established the Foremost Group which has become a world leader in international shipping, transportation, and finance. In August 2007, Mrs. Chao passed away following a fierce struggle with lymphoma.
Chao Family Members
Dr. and the late Mrs. Chao cherished their family and strove to provide a loving and supportive home for their daughters: Elaine, May, Christine, Grace, and Angela. All of their daughters have proven themselves successful and driven women. Each of them has found her own path in giving back to society.
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao has dedicated her life to public service through her various roles in government and non-profits. She has served as the Chairwoman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Director of the Peace Corps, President of the United Way of America, and was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a Cabinet position as the US Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush.
Angela Chao has taken leadership roles in both the Foremost Group and the Foremost Foundation. Receiving her MBA from the Harvard Business School, she now acts as the Chair and CEO of the Foremost Group. Angela is a well respected lecturer who has spoken across the world on a wide range of business concerns. Angela is a patron of the arts, sitting on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Chairman’s Council among the other prestigious positions she holds.
Philanthropy
Throughout the years, the Chao family has exhibited their support for institutions of higher learning. Placing education as an important family and public value, the Chaos have worked through the family's foundations towards this goal. Through scholarship programs, the Chao family has aided financially over 5,000 students in China and the United States. In the years since her passing, the Chao family has sought to honor Mrs. Chao’s memory and her belief in the power of education. LIkewise, the Foremost Foundation made a donation to Harvard University to build the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center which will serve as an executive education center at the center of the Harvard Business School. The family has also worked on other projects in cooperation with the Shanghai Mulan Education Foundation, which helped to fund the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao academic building at Shanghai Jiao Tong University of which Dr. Chao is an alumnus, as well as the Mulan Maritime Simulation Memorial Center based at the Shanghai Maritime University.