Integrated resort Marina Bay Sands yesterday announced that it had raised $3.9 million for charity, with almost 20,000 people taking part in its fund-raising activities over the weekend.

Some joined the Community Chest Heartstrings Walk, which raised $1.77 million for Community Chest beneficiaries, while others attended the festival's inaugural picnic, from which proceeds also went to the Community Chest.

Other events included a fund-raising concert by The Sichuan Orchestra of China, and a charity challenge called Play It Forward, where participants won challenges to raise funds for various charities.

This is the fifth time the integrated resort has organised the Sands for Singapore Charity Festival. To date, the festival has raised nearly $20 million for local charities, including $3.6 million raised last year.

Funds raised from this year's festival will benefit over 80 local charities, including Association for Persons with Special Needs, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, and Singapore Association for the Deaf.