For the first time in its 61-year history, the Singapore Children's Society (SCS) is holding a charity TV show to raise funds.

The three-hour show will be shown "live" on Mediacorp Channel 8 on July 14 at 7pm and will see close to 20 local and foreign artistes coming together to put up song and skit performances centred around the theme of "Childhood".

Some highlights to watch out for include local veteran artistes Zoe Tay and Hong Hui Fang performing with students from Guang Yang Primary School and Cedar Girls School in a handbells item and actors Tosh Zhang and Wang Wei Liang from the hit movie "Ah Boys To Men" performing a shadow dance.

The SCS helped more than 71, 000 underprivileged children from two to 18 years old last year.

Said SCS chairman Mr Koh Choon Hui at Friday's press conference held at the charity's facility, Sunbeam Place: "The needs of the children we nurture have become more complex today compared to earlier this years. Beyond fund raising we hope that the show will also bring about greater public awareness of the situation our children are in."

The charity hopes to raise about $4 million from the show which will help to cover its operating costs of $12.5 million for this year.