Lm206,440.97 was collected through cash and cheques during the programme itself. Lm813,935 was collected through telephone calls and blank SMSs while nearly Lm4,500 was the amount of interest accumulated since the funds were collected. This amounts to Lm1,024,855. Of these, Public Broadcasting Services was refunded Lm44,500 to make up for their expenses related to the transmission of this event.

The rest, Lm980,355.57 was distributed to the charitable organisations.

The Community Chest Fund was given 50 per cent of the amount – Lm490,177.78, while the Eden Foundation was given 12.5 per cent of the amount – Lm122,544.44. Caritas was given 7.5 per cent of the sum – Lm73,526,67.

Another five organisations – Razzett tal-Hbiberija, homes of the elderly owned by the Church, YMCA and the Emigrants’ Commission – all got five per cent – Lm49,017.79 each. The rest of the

organisations – eight in all – were given 1.25 per cent of the funds collected – Lm12,254.44 each. These organisations are Children’s Cancer Support Group, the Millenium Chapel, Suriet il-Bniedem, Daniel Delicata Memorial Association, the Association of the Deaf, Daritama, Parroquia Sant Tomos Appostolo and the Ghana Mission Foundation.

President Edward Fenech Adami, who received the cheque on behalf of the Community Chest Fund said L-Istrina is an icon of Maltese generosity and solidarity.

He said that when one sees the close to 150,000 telephone calls and SMSs received, this shows that almost every household participated in the event by donating money.

If Maltacom were to charge the 25 cents they usually charge for calls on the numbers used for the donations, the telephony company would have made nearly Lm30,000. However, this charge was waived.

Dr Fenech Adami expressed his hope that the same amount, or possibly more, will be collected next year and thanked presenter Peppi Azzopardi and all his team for their dedication and commitment.