President of Singapore Halimah Yacob took to the stage to perform along with her husband in a special programme in Singapore to raise funds for the needy . This year’s President’s Star Charity raised a record total of SGD8.3 million.
The entire amount will be given to the 59 charities under the President’s Challenge 2018. This is the highest amount raised for the annual event was SGD7.66 million last year.
President Halimah Yacob made a special appearance on the stage along with her husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, in a special closing song together with The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra that includes musicians with special needs, as well as singer Aisyah Aziz, visually-handicapped singer Wai Yee and the Purple Choir Kids.
Writing on Facebook, President Halimah said, “The stage has never been brighter as it was lighted up with exciting performances by artistes and beneficiaries alike. It was a night where we embrace empowerment and inclusiveness.”
She also thanked the people for the record amount raised in the programme. “On behalf of the beneficiaries, thank you everyone for your generosity and support for the record amount raised!” she wrote.
The theme of the event was inclusion; it was studded with artistes from diverse countries including a solo dance performance by Zoe Tay; guest appearances by Hong Kong's Eason Chan, Malaysia's Dayang Nurfaizah, Taiwan’s Feng E; Singapore’s Sufie Rashid and performers with disabilities from I’m Soul Inc.
In addition to this, young local artistes Fang Rong, Tay Ying, Edwin Goh, Nick Teo, Farhana M Noor and Nithiyia Rao also performed a hip-hop dance piece. Further, the TNT Boys hit all the right notes with their little brothers and sisters from the Lorna Whiston school.
People of Singapore are encouraged to donate to the President’s Challenge beneficiaries online at www.giving.sg/psc2018, or by calling 1900-112-8821 (SGD10), 1900-112-8822 (SGD50) or 1900-112-8823 (SGD100). Donation channels will close at 11.59 on October 31.
