***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***
Random.org has selected the two random folks who are about to get $100 to IKEA. And they are… Jennifer (who improves lives by teaching and will also be adopting a child from Ethiopia) and Ashley (who says needs some improvement for herself). Congrats!
If you take one thing away from this post, it should be this: two people are winning $100 gift cards to IKEA this week. Woot! But if you have room for a second thing, know that it’s because Ikea is hosting their second annual Life Improvement Project that, among other things (like hilariously helpful “instructions” for living a better life) includes another $100,000 Life Improvement Sabbatical Contest. So if you’ve got a great idea about how to help others, IKEA will give you one year and one hundred grand to make it happen. Last year’s winner (whose video can be seen here) was actually from right here in Virginia. Double woot!
- PRIZE: An $100 gift card to IKEA, courtesy of the IKEA Life Improvement Project
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “IMPROVE ME!” and tell us…
- BONUS QUESTION: …how you’d like to improve the lives of others. Do you have a special skill or talent that you could leverage? Or is there a specific cause or area of need that you’d like to dedicate yourself too?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, October 12 at 8pm EST (or at 10,000 entries)
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: Two
- PRIZE SHIPS: The continental 48 United States (although we do try to wrangle as many international giveaways as possible)
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winners will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here on Thursday for the announcement of our winner. Good luck…
Note: We weren’t paid or perked for hosting this giveaway, we just do ‘em to thank you awesome folks for stopping in. See our Giveaway FAQ page for more info. Pics courtesy of IKEA Life Improvement Project
Erin says
improve me.
i try to treat folks regularly how i want to be treated.
Danielle Phillips says
IMPROVE ME!!
I am a first year Speech-Language Pathologist working with developmentally delayed preschoolers. I want to make their lives as normal and functional as possible. I love it!
Heidi says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d love to find a child/youth who needs a mentor.
Carrie B. says
Improve Me! I love teaching people anything about nutrition and health.
Katie N. says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m going to go with Ikea’s #1 idea – making it a point to say hello to strangers and give them a big smile every day!
Elizabeth says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d really love to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s. I don’t know how or what I could contribute to this cause, but it sure has been on my heart and mind lately.
Erin R says
IMPROVE ME!!
I volunteer at local treatment facilities that host women battling chemical dependencies ;)
I am an ER Nurse as well!
Johnna says
Improve me! I am a physical therapist. I work with children with special needs. It is very rewarding and humbling.
Claire says
Improve me! I am in school to be a school librarian and I want to help students become life long learners and have a drive for inquiry :)
S says
IMPROVE ME!
I feel compassionate about the homeless and often buy extra food to keep in my car to hand out to those on the streets.
Liz Leybeck says
Improve me!!!! Develop a FREE community center where young children (birth to 5)could take classes like swimming, gymnastics, art, music with a parent or caregiver.
Ms. Stork says
Improve Me!
I would like to start a early childhood center that is for middle class families that can’t afford the high prices and who don’t qualify for the state aid programs set aside for low income families. The middle class is struggling and why shouldn’t their children get a quality early childhood education without having to pay an arm and a leg to get it!
Bee says
IMPROVE ME, PLEASE!
Since you specifically said “the lives of others” and not necessarily “the lives of other HUMANS” I would absolutely love to run a non-profit animal rescue one day. I currently volunteer with a rescue and it’s heartbreaking to see how many animals in need we have to turn away because we’re all full and can’t afford to care for any more. I’ve ended up taking home some of the cats myself to foster because they’ve been with the rescue for over two year and I just can’t bear to see them there anymore. I’m definitely a Crazy Cat Lady in Training right now, so don’t be surprised if you hear of me one day living in some cheapo shack on as many acres of land as I can afford for these babies to run around on!
I’m studying abroad in France from January through June of 2012 and I would definitely appreciate an IKEA budget (you have no idea how excited I was when I found out they have IKEA there too!) to make my dorm feel a little more like home.
Melissa Peterson says
IMPROVE ME!!!
As a (self-proclaimed) member of the “Polyanna Club”, I tend to be a bit of an optimist & it really makes my day when something I say to someone comes back to me as a “thanks, that really brightened my day”. I try really hard to point out the positive in most situations!
Jessica says
IMPROVE ME!!
Laura says
Improve me! I’d work with kids in low income areas.
Britney says
Improve me.
I want to inspire people to fully thrive in their lives, instead of just getting by.
Kitty says
IMPROVE ME!
Heather says
IMPROVE ME!!! I help people learn basic computer skills so they can fill out online job applications.
DeeDee says
Improve me. Thinking of volunteering at a Nursing Home.
Allison says
IMPROVE ME!
I am a teacher in an urban area. My daily goal is to help them learn so they can any and every opportunity to succeed!
kristin blake says
IMPROVE ME!!!
I’d like to help more people learn how to become entrepreneurs and take their life by the horns. Help more people become financially successful without working a “job” and making someone else rich.
Meggin says
Improve me!!!
Will says
Improve me!
I would love to educate people of motorcycle safety and start a course for people who want to learn to ride.
Manasa says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to help oldage homes in India.
Callie says
Improve me! :) My husband and I ‘sponsor’ children in different countries so that they have food and money to go to school, etc. We are also involved in east/west dialogue with churches/mosques to try to ease religious tension in the next generation (a lofty goal ;) ) Also I foster stray kitties for the humane society, trying to control animal population through rehoming and spay/neuter surgeries rather than euthanasia in the shelters. Annnnd I tutor undergrads in physics at the university where I’m doing my grad work, to help people like physics/science more! :D
Jessica says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d like to do something with the elderly in nursing homes. It always breaks my heart to think of how much solitude they are in.
Sami says
IMPROVE ME…. I volunteer. And I love it. As a young professional in a recession I don’t have a lot of extra $$ – but I do have time. So I volunteer through an organization called Hands On Portland (Oregon but they are set-up all over the country. They have a calendar that offers done-in-a-day projects. You can just sign up and go. It’s so easy. I have done a lot of school renovations and improvements. Not crazy projects – it’s as simple as cleaning and vacuuming classrooms. Some districts in my area have even had their custodial budget slashed One school was so grimy I was just amazed. Any little kid with allergies wouldn’t have been able to attend. You learn that it’s little things that make the greatest impact.
Megan says
IMPROVE ME!
I want to help stop bullying. I have 2 (soon to be 3) daughters, and I plan on teaching them about bullying. (I already have with my oldest) Even if they are the only 3 children I can teach, I feel it’ll make a difference.
carrie says
IMPROVE ME!
I work on child welfare- sometimes it feels like it’s hard to make progress, but hopefully we’re improving people’s lives..!
amandelin says
IMPROVE ME! I’m currently working on my degree in Nutrition, to be followed by a Masters in Psychology. I’m going to, hopefully, work with people with eating disorders.
Raquel says
Improve me! I’d love to help kids who have no access to medical care for things like cleft palates and club feet.
egodbey says
improve me!
Melody says
IMPROVE ME!
My husband and I strive to improve the lives of abused and neglected children by being foster parents. We give babies a safe, loving, and nurturing home until their parents or a family member can take care of them. It’s hard sometimes, but the reward is worth it.
Aimee says
IMPOROVE ME!
i am an assistant to a middle school youth ministry…i love to help middle schoolers improve their lives, mostly through encouragement and having a listening ear. often times, i leave encouraged by their passion for life…its contagious!
Kelsey Gardner says
iMPRoVe Me :)
J says
Improve me! I’m passionate about global public health.
Abra says
Improve Me! I am a pediatric nurse. Sick kids need something fun! I would like to figure out a way to get crayons, coloring books, books, and toys donated to these kids year round.
Stacey says
Improve Me! I’d like to spread the word about visiting the elderly. There is nothing more gratifying than spending the day with someone who doesn’t have anyone else to visit them and hearing about their life. You can’t help but enrich not only the life of the person you’re visiting, but your own life as well.
laura says
IMPROVE ME! I want to help feed the starving children of the world.
Christine says
IMPROVE ME!!! I volunteer as an alumni to recruit and talk to HS seniors about college. I also work with special needs students. :) Love volunteering!!!
Stephanie B says
IMPROVE ME! I’m all about improving the lives of those affected by breast cancer. I volunteer for a group in the mid-atlantic area called BCA-CV, which helps people who already have breast cancer. So many of the fundraisers and marches are focused on raising money for research, and it feels good to know that someone is out there helping the women who can’t wait for the cure.
Sarah says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to improve others by spreading preventative health education- so I’m in school to be a nurse practitioner!
Roxanne says
improve me! PLEASE! If I could I would open an art center for low income kids and teens. Trained as an illustrator and a painter I do not know what I would do without art as an outlet. People of all incomes should be able to experience art, art history and the freedom of creative expression!
Jacie says
Improve Me!
I’d like to help lower income families learn how to grow their own food and eat healthier on a very limited income.
Lauren says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d like to work with homeless animals.
Anita says
IMPROVE ME!
Grace says
Improve me!!!
emily says
improve me! I want to become more assertive so I can actually stick up for myself.
Allyson says
IMPROVE ME!!
I would love to improve myself and my home.