Remember your first day of school? Eagerly awaiting the bus, filling school bags with supplies, getting ready to meet new friends. For many children that simple dream may never become a reality.

The good news is, when you raise the proverbial paddle to bid on this year’s array of world-class travel goods and services, you’ll be changing the lives of some of those children, helping them build a future based on a foundation of education.

During a 2007 trip to Burma, Loretta Jitner saw firsthand the harsh existence of needy children when a young girl approached her on the street to ask for a pencil. Jitner quickly pulled a pen from her bag, but the girl declined the offer, leaving Jitner puzzled. She later learned that the girl needed a pencil — not a pen — so she could attend school.

A pencil: such a basic need, but nearly impossible to attain. Jitner was inspired to action. She founded Pencils For Kids, Inc. (www.pencilsforkidsinc.com), a nonprofit organization aimed at providing school supplies to children in need around the world.

“Pencils For Kids, Inc. brings the opportunity of an education to children in developing countries who may otherwise not be able to attend school,” said Jitner. “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.”

Help Pencils For Kids, Inc. fulfill its mission while making the most of this opportunity to realize your own travel dreams. Bidding begins March 15 for the world-class travel goods and services listed below. And the list will keep growing as the auction progresses. Log on to newgtsite.wpengine.com/auction for rules, bidding instructions and the most up-to-date list of items on the auction block.

You can’t win if you don’t bid. And only bidders are eligible for a special random prize drawing at the conclusion of the auction.

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.