Itching to head south for spring break? Planning a family reunion this
summer? Want to visit the Alps? Beginning Feb. 19, savvy travelers can
spend time in great destinations while also benefiting abused children in
resource poor regions of the world by participating in The Great Online
Travel Auction for Kids.
The Kids First Fund, a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization, along with
nine airlines will launch the online auction of airline tickets to
destinations around the world including Scandinavia, South Africa,
Switzerland, London, Mexico, the Caribbean and destinations throughout the
United States including Hawaii. The Great Online Auction for Kids launches
February 19, 2004 at 4 p.m. (CST) at eBay.com:
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/kidsfirstfund and closes February 29, 2004.

More than 80 airline tickets will be available with opening bids beginning
at $1. Participating airlines include: ATA Airlines, AirTran Airways,
Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, Midwest Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines,
South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic
Airways. Business class travel is available on Swiss International Air
Lines and AirTran Airways. The auction also includes ten certificates
valid for one night stays at 180 Baymont Inns & Suites locations in 30
states.

“The Kids First Fund completed its first online auction in 2003,”
explained board president Jay Sorensen. “With the help of over 115 NHL
hockey players, we raised more than $7,500 for abused children. Thanks to
the generosity of our airline partners, we’re hopeful we can do even more
in 2004 to protect abused children in countries where resources are
extremely limited.”

ATA Airlines has a major presence in the auction with 25 pairs of tickets
valid for any U.S. destination (such as Maui, Honolulu, Phoenix, San
Francisco); four top destinations in Mexico; and Grand Cayman, Montego
Bay, Aruba and San Juan in the Caribbean. The ATA Airlines tickets have no
restrictions or blackout dates.

Proceeds from this auction will help protect abused children in countries
where resources are extremely limited. The Kids First Fund is an all-
volunteer non-profit organization with no administrative or fundraising
costs. Every dollar raised will directly benefit children. Current
projects help children in Latvia where the Kids First Fund supports
programs to educate child welfare professionals such as police officers,
judges, social workers and prosecutors on child abuse issues. Direct
assistance is also given to centers providing care for abused children.
The Kids First Fund anticipates it will develop Latvia’s first family
shelter for abused children and their mothers this year.

About The Great Online Travel Auction for Kids: Bid, buy and help stop
child abuse at The Great Online Travel Auction for Kids. To browse through
auction items or place a bid, visit
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/kidsfirstfund from Feb. 19-29, 2004. More
than 80 airline tickets to destinations around the world are available
from 9 airlines. The auction also includes 10 certificates valid for one
night stays at 180 Baymont Inns & Suites locations in 30 states. Payment
may be made via PayPal, money orders and certified checks. The eBay user
ID member name for The Great Online Travel Auction is: KidsFirstFund.

About the Kids First Fund: The Kids First Fund helps abused and abandoned
children. We protect children from abuse. We empower young adults with a
positive future. We strengthen families. We build awareness of child
abuse. We operate in countries where resources are very limited. Current
projects provide support for children in the democratic republic of Latvia
located on the Baltic Sea. The Kids First Fund supports programs to
educate child welfare professionals such as police officers, judges,
social workers and prosecutors on child abuse issues. Direct assistance is
also provided to centers providing care for abused children. The Kids
First Fund is a very efficient non-profit organization and does not incur
any expenses since all staffing and services are donated. Learn more at
http://www.kidsfirstfund.org/ .
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