THE Boat Asia 2009 Charity Gala Dinner raised $70,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

This will help an estimated 11,000 students from low-income families currently supported by the fund. At the event at the Shangri-La Hotel on April 24, $65,000 was raised via a charity auction.

Mr Herman Ho, managing director of TMX Show Productions, the show's organiser, gave $5,000 to bring the total to $70,000. He said: 'I am heartened by the generosity of our guests despite such tough economic times.'