By April Chong

A CHARITY gala dinner on Wednesday left child-welfare organisation Mainly I Love Kids (Milk) $2.7 million better off.

Hosted by retailer Sincere Watch at the Shangri-La Hotel, the gala proceeded on the theme 'Race Towards The Dream', in a nod to this being Formula One race week. Nearly $2 million was raised through donations and sale of tables at the dinner, with the rest coming from a charity auction.

The auction, led by Sotheby's, put on the block a collection of motor sport-inspired timepieces and other luxury items.

Two items attracted top bids of $190,000 - a Girard-Perregaux Night Racer watch and four bottles of wine of varying origins and vintage.

Milk provides for the education, medical care and special needs of needy children around the world. The money raised on Wednesday will go into education grants for autistic children in Singapore and into providing maternal and infant care in Timor Leste, among other causes.

Guests at the gala watched performances by the Milk Choir, comprising 24 talented children from troubled or poor families in the Philippines, and also by local singer Kit Chan. Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar was the guest of honour.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 26 Sept, 2008.

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