Betty Moran was honored by the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls at its ‘Making a Difference’ luncheon on Wednesday. Photo by Campli Photography

Before a sold-out crowd of several hundred, a Chester County philanthropist known for avoiding the limelight took center stage at the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls’ Eighth Annual Making a Difference Luncheon on Wednesday.

Held at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern, the event honored Betty Moran, a Chester County resident and longtime supporter of the fund, with its Kitchen Table Award. Moran also received a special citation from the county commissioners, which was presented by Commissioner Kathi Cozzone.

Young women, parents, grandparents, community leaders and citizens joined the celebration. The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls established the Kitchen Table Award to honor a member of the community who represents the fund’s mission and values, an “outstanding Chester County woman who has made substantive contributions through service and/or philanthropy to improve the lives of women and girls through her own time, or talents, or resources.”

Moran, who has served as a behind-the-scenes advisor and generous donor since the formation of the fund in 1996, said she identifies with the fund’s mission because of her belief that “when women are supported, it benefits families.”

Drawing on her leadership roles with myriad other county nonprofits, Moran has infused her role at Chester County Futures with first-hand knowledge. “There are so many families who need a warm home, love, care, and attention. The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls has such a worthwhile purpose in Chester County,” she said.

A lifelong county resident, Moran attended the Shipley School, where she was a state champion squash player; she continued her education at Mary Washington College as a biology major. In 1951, she married the late Maxwell Moran, raised six children, became an accomplished foxhunter, and began a diverse career of community outreach. She is also the proprietor of Brushwood Stable, a renowned thoroughbred racing and breeding operation in Malvern.

A founding member of the Chester County Community Foundation, Moran has served on the boards of the Brandywine Conservancy, Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, the Bryn Clovis Charity Foundation, Paoli Hospital, Community Volunteers in Medicine, Operation Warm, Home of the Sparrow, and the Chester County Food Bank, where she was credited recently with assisting in its dramatic turnaround.

The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls is a grant-making and education foundation dedicated to addressing the needs of women and girls in the county. For more than 16 years, it has raised awareness about the critical needs of women and girls, and has awarded over $1.6 million to 52 non-profit organizations. To learn more about the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls visit www.ccwomenandgirls.org.