President's Star Charity show raises $6.32 million for those who need help

(From left) Music instructor Budi Hartiana, and Ain beneficiary Zainul Aladdin Azfar giving President Tony Tan Keng Yam a quick lesson on the musical instrument kolintang. With them are 98.7FM DJs Joachim Gomez and Sonia Chew. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG
(From left) Music instructor Budi Hartiana, and Ain beneficiary Zainul Aladdin Azfar giving President Tony Tan Keng Yam a quick lesson on the musical instrument kolintang. With them are 98.7FM DJs Joachim Gomez and Sonia Chew. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

SINGAPORE - The President's Star Charity on Sunday night raised $6.32 million for those who need help.

Hosted by Mediacorp artistes Joanne Peh and Gurmit Singh, the 2.5-hour show saw stars Pierre Png and Chua En Lai squaring off against their female colleagues such as deejays Rosalyn Lee and Sonia Chew in a lip-syncing competition.

Guitarist Yan Neil Chan played the well-loved Bill Withers song Lean On Me with visually impaired musician Robert Tan.

Local indie band The Sam Willows also played their song For Love with violinist Sophie Soon from iC2 PrepHouse, a training school for young people with impaired vision.

The show also featured international acts like Malaysian singer Yuna, as well as child music prodigies Kaelyn Soh and Dan Yuet Ian, both eight, and seven-year-old Jessi Meng.

This year, the Government will match a dollar for every dollar donated, under a $250 million Care and Share scheme. The scheme encourages donations and volunteerism in the lead-up to Singapore's 50th birthday.

Last year's show, which starred 1980s British pop singer Rick Astley, raised more than $5 million.

There will be a repeat telecast of the President's Star Charity on Sunday, Nov 9, on Channel 5, from 4.30pm to 7pm. Donation telepolls will close on Nov 9 at midnight.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.