Remember your first day of school: waiting for the bus, packing your backpack with new supplies and hoping to meet new friends. For many children around the world, that ordinary milestone remains out of reach.
When you bid on this year’s selection of world-class travel experiences and services, you’ll do more than chase your own travel dreams—you’ll help give children the tools they need to attend school and build a brighter future.
During a 2007 visit to Burma, founder Loretta Jitner witnessed how basic needs can block a child’s education. When a young girl asked her for a pencil, Jitner offered a pen; the girl declined. Only later did Jitner learn the girl needed a pencil specifically to attend school. That moment inspired Jitner to act.
She established Pencils For Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing backpacks and school supplies to children in developing countries. By supplying items as simple as pencils and notebooks, Pencils For Kids helps open the door to learning, growth and long-term opportunity.
“Pencils For Kids, Inc. brings the opportunity of an education to children in developing countries who may otherwise not be able to attend school,” Jitner says. “By assisting these children with backpacks filled with school supplies, we ensure they have the opportunity to learn, grow and open their minds to the endless possibilities they have in themselves and in this world.”
You can support this mission while pursuing exceptional travel offerings. Bidding begins March 15 on a wide range of travel goods and services. The auction catalog will expand as new items are added. Visit newgtsite.wpengine.com/auction for rules, bidding instructions and the latest auction list.
Only active bidders are eligible for a special random prize drawing when the auction ends—so be sure to place a bid.
Featured auction items include:
1 One-week all-inclusive stay at the ClubHotel Riu Karamboa in Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands
2 One-week all-inclusive stay at the Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica
3 One-week all-inclusive stay at the Riu Palace Pacifico in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
4 Two round-trip executive-class tickets on Air Canada
5 Two round-trip economy-class tickets on Air Pacific
6 Two round-trip economy-class tickets on AirTran Airways to and from any served U.S. destination
7 Two-night stay in a deluxe king room at the Amalfi Hotel Chicago
8 Two round-trip economy-class tickets on Avianca from New York to Colombia
9 Two round-trip business-class tickets on Asiana Airlines
10 Four-night stay in a Classic Room with buffet breakfast at the Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel, St. Petersburg
11 Four-night stay in a double room with breakfast at Corinthia Hotel Prague
12 Two-night stay at the Beacon Hotel, South Beach
13 Three-night weekend stay for two in a Centennial Suite at the Conrad Centennial Singapore
14 Three-night stay in deluxe accommodations at the Conrad Chicago
15 One round-trip economy-class ticket on EL AL from New York, Newark, Los Angeles or Toronto to Israel
16 Three-night stay in a Coral Room, with breakfast, at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
17 Two round-trip Coral economy-class tickets on Etihad Airways from New York to Sydney or Melbourne
18 Three-night stay in a one-bedroom suite at the Fairmont Towers Heliopolis, Cairo
19 Three-night stay in a deluxe room at the Four Seasons San Francisco
20 Three-night stay in a deluxe room at the Hilton Beijing
21 One-night stay in a deluxe room at the Hotel Sax, Chicago
22 Two-night stay in a Park Deluxe room at the Park Hyatt Washington, D.C.
23 One million Inter-Continental Priority Club Rewards points
24 Two-night weekend (Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday) stay in a one-bedroom suite at The Kimberly Hotel, New York. Package includes four tickets for New York’s Circle Line Sightseeing Tours.
25 Two round-trip business-class tickets on Emirates from New York, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco to Dubai
26 One-night weekend stay in a luxury guestroom with buffet breakfast at the Metropolitan Hotel, Toronto
27 Two-night stay in deluxe balcony accommodations at Le Merigot Santa Monica
28 One round-trip business-class ticket on Lufthansa from any U.S. gateway to any Lufthansa destination in Europe
29 Three-night stay at Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard
30 One-night stay in a park-view accommodation with breakfast for two at the Park Hyatt Chicago
31 Two-night weekend stay at The Peninsula Beverly Hills
32 Three-night stay in a deluxe room at the Pan Pacific Singapore
33 Two-night stay in a two-bedroom villa at the Desert Princess Country Club in Palm Springs, courtesy of Pinnacle Luxury Tours
34 Three-night stay in a Landmark Room with daily breakfast at Raffles Beijing
35 Three-night stay in a garden-view room at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
36 Two round-trip business-class tickets on Singapore Airlines from New York to Frankfurt
37 Three-night stay in a Classic Room, with breakfast, at the Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort, Rio de Janeiro
38 Two round-trip business-class tickets on SWISS from any U.S. gateway to Zurich or Geneva
39 Two round-trip business-class tickets on TAM Airlines from Miami or New York to any South American destination
40 Two round-trip executive-class tickets on TAP Portugal from Newark to Portugal
41 Three-night stay in a Westin Room with breakfast at the Westin Beijing
42 Two-night stay in deluxe accommodations at the Westin Copley Place, Boston
43 Three-night weekend stay in deluxe accommodations at the Westin Philadelphia
44 Two round-trip premium-economy tickets on Virgin Atlantic from Washington to London
45 One brown-leather writing portfolio from Hartmann Luggage
46 Ten four-packs of New York’s Circle Line Sightseeing tickets
47 Three-night weekend stay in a superior room at Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing
48 Two round-trip business-class tickets on American Airlines from any of its U.S. gateways to Europe, Hawaii or Alaska
49 Three-night stay in a deluxe room at the Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles
50 A one-year subscription to Boingo Global
51 A one-year subscription to Boingo Mobile
52 Three-night stay in a deluxe sea-view room with buffet breakfast at the Fairmont Monte Carlo
53 Four-night stay in a superior guestroom including breakfast and entrance to the Royal Spa at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal Budapest
54 Three-night stay at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, B.C.
Join the auction and make a direct impact: your bids provide essential school supplies to children who need them most, helping to open doors to education and opportunity.