The 13th edition of the annual World Gourmet Summit Charity Dinner has raised $551,888 for more than 80 charities supported by the Community Chest.

Over 360 diners and guest-of-honour Dr Ng Eng Hen, Singapore's Defence Minister attended the dinner at the The Fullerton Hotel on Thursday evening. A five-course dinner was prepared by international masterchef Gabriele Ferron from Italy.

Funds were raised through table sales, cash donations and silent and live auctions held during the dinner. More than $5.05 million has been raised since the first charity dinner in 2000. The charity dinner is usually held during the opening week of the World Gourmet Summit, an annual epicurean event in its 17th year.

The money raised this year will go towards supporting critical social service programmes under the care of Community Chest which is the fund-raising arm of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Programmes include those which reach out to youths-at-risk and provide support to the elderly.