Longing to dip your toes in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon? Planning a romantic trip to Paris?  Want to experience the majesty of Alaska’s wilderness?  Curious about the comfort of business class? Beginning March 18, savvy travelers can bid their way to great destinations while benefiting abused children in poor regions of the world by participating in the International Online Travel Auction for Kids at KidsFirstAuction.com

The Kids First Fund, a US-based not-for-profit organization, along with participating airlines, hotel chains, and car rental companies, will sponsor the online auction of tickets and accommodations to intriguing destinations such as Europe, Russia, South America, the Middle East, Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. This is the auction’s 5th year and it is believed to be the world’s largest online auction to benefit children.

The 2008 auction offers choices for U.S. travelers and bidders throughout the world. Donor companies include airlines with worldwide networks and carriers with intra-Europe, Mexico, and Russian routes. The following is a sample of participants in the 2008 International Online Travel Auction for Kids:

Air Canada
Air France
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
ALMA de Mexico
ATA Airlines
Avis Rent a Car
Budget Rent a Car
DAT Danish Air Transport
Flybe Airlines (Europe)
FossHotels Iceland
Funjet
The Hilton Family of Hotels
Hawaii Superferry
Horizon Airlines
Icelandair
Jazz Air (Canada)
JetBlue Airways
SAMA Airlines (Saudi Arabia)
Sky Express (Russia)
Spirit Airlines
Sterling Airlines (Europe)
Swiss International Air Lines
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Vueling Airlines (Europe)
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
  
The auction list is expected to grow beyond 100 items before the March 18 auction kick-off.

The funds from this year’s auction will support construction of Latvia's first family shelter for women and children. The shelter will create a safe refuge for abused children and their mothers in the rural and very needy Latgale region of Latvia. The Kids First Fund is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with no administrative or fund-raising costs. Every dollar raised benefits children directly.