Sponsor Spotlight: Penny Pitou Travel

Anyone who has lived in the Lakes Region for any length of time is familiar with Penny Pitou Travel. This trusted Laconia full-service travel agency is known for its expert vacation planning, decades of experience and a commitment to personalized service.

Penny Pitou Travel has supported The Lakes Region Children’s Auction almost since the beginning.  Owner Kim Terrio shares that this year the need is greater than ever. With federal cuts hitting nonprofits hard, she hopes area businesses and individuals will step up and lend a hand. “Making some cuts seems like a reasonable idea”, she says, “until support systems disappear for those who need them the most”.

Over the years, Penny Pitou Travel’s involvement with the Auction has evolved. It started with volunteering– answering the phones – and eventually grew with their business to financial support. Terrio has watched the Auction grow from a slim local radio station effort into the robust community-led organization it is today. She says Penny Pitou Travel got involved in the Auction “because it’s the right thing to do and it comes from the heart”.

The need in our community hit her first-hand when she accompanied her husband on one of his delivery routes for the Laconia Got Lunch program. He told her of helping a young man carry the food bags into his home only to find the kitchen cabinets were completely bare. “That moment drove home the reality of the need that some Lakes Region families have”, she said. Laconia Got Lunch remains her favorite Children’s Auction grantee. “No matter what’s going on, kids need to be fed”.

Terrio credits Auction founder, Warren Bailey, with understanding if you can get one person involved, they’ll bring a friend and suddenly you have fifty people who want to help.

“Don’t think that you can’t do a huge thing because you can do a little thing”.

Terrio encourages local businesses and individuals to contribute in any way they can. Whether it’s donating an item, bidding, sponsoring, or simply spreading the word—there’s a place for everyone to make an impact.

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction salutes Penny Pitou Travel for being a sofa moment sponsor again this year and thanks the agency for its years of involvement with the Auction!