Cover A Taiko drums performance signalled the start of The Eye Ball 2024
A Taiko drums performance signalled the start of The Eye Ball 2024
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The Eye Ball also recognised Peter Seah with the Visionary Award 2024
The thunderous beats of Taiko drums signalled the start of the evening—and The Eye Ball 2024 was in full swing. The fundraising gala dinner and auction held in conjunction with VisionSave, the philanthropic initiative of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), brought together a community of clinicians, researchers and donors to the Grand Ballroom of The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore on August 31, in the fight against blindness.
But before everyone filled the ballroom, guests, who came dressed to the theme of “Oriental Opulence”, enjoyed a series of activities in the foyer. These included Oriental-themed cocktails curated by Hopscotch’s expert mixologists, a tea appreciation experience with TeaSpec, as well as a live Chinese ink painting demonstration by the Life Art Society.
In her opening speech, ophthalmologist Ho Ching Lin, who has chaired the Ball’s organising committee since its inception in 2011 said, “The Eye Ball has been more than just a fancy evening. It’s a beacon of hope for those battling blinding eye disease. For me, this mission is deeply personal—and I know many of you feel the same way. By being here tonight, you are playing a part in changing lives and restoring sight.”
Peter Seah, Aung Tin and Jodhbir Mehta
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Ho thanked donors for their never-ending support of VisionSave, before honouring former SingHealth chairman Peter Seah Lim Huat with the Visionary Award 2024 for his enduring legacy of excellence and dedication, which serves as a beacon for future leaders.
While Seah is a distinguished public figure celebrated for his exceptional contributions to banking and public service in Singapore, his tenure as chairman of SingHealth from 2009 to 2021 has seen the healthcare institution, in partnership with Duke-NUS Medical School, become a premier Academic Medical Centre. Under his visionary leadership, pivotal institutions flourished, partnerships thrived and significant expansions reshaped the landscape of Singapore's healthcare delivery.
This delivery of quality healthcare is also an impetus for the work of SNEC and SERI as “each day, we work tirelessly to care for our patients, develop cutting-edge research and advance improvements in eye care”, says SNEC CEO Aung Tin, who is also a clinician scientist. “This is our purpose to prevent blindness and improve sight. We devote our efforts towards this mission to impact the lives of patients by helping them preserve their vision.”
Neo Kah Kiat and Sally Liew
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Professor Aung elaborates, “Our mission is very important because worldwide, there are 43 million people who are blind, and 295 million who have visual impairment. In Southeast Asia alone, there are 6 million people who are blind and 28 million who have visual impairment.”
This is why “Global Eye Health” was the chosen cause for the evening’s Power Pledge, a 10-min fundraising challenge, which added to the tally of the more than S$2 million raised for the evening in support of VisionSave.
As per Eye Ball tradition, an auction extravaganza featured a curated selection of luxury items, from exquisite jewellery to lifestyle experiences. The evening also saw a series of entertaining performances, including erhu musician Calista Liaw, before the much-anticipated Best-Dressed prizes were awarded to Jessie Foo, Ivan Howden, Georgia Lee, Kelly Keak and Grace Yeh, who all came in their “Oriental Opulence” best, putting a stylish note to an evening well-spent for a good cause.
Jessie Foo, Ivan Howden, Ho Ching Lin, Georgia Lee, Kelly Keak and Grace Yeh
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As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
