*** This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – scroll down to see who won!***
Perhaps you’ve heard of a little store called Ikea? And perhaps you’ll be interested in a $350 gift card from them for this week’s giveaway? Yeah we couldn’t believe it either when they emailed us. Hooray is right, Ikea catalog. Well said.
And not only are they generously offering up this week’s sweet prize, Ikea’s also presenting “The Life Improvement Project” where they’ll award one philanthropic individual $100,000 to take a one year sabbatical to help others (start a non-profit, volunteer for a year, etc). Plus they’re hosting free seminars in their stores about improving your life through your living space.
But back to how you can get your mitts on that $350 gift card:
- PRIZE: A $350 gift card to Ikea!
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “IKEA Me!” and…
- BONUS QUESTION: … tell us what you’d do if you could spend one year helping others. Would you open an after school program? Volunteer at a homeless shelter? Rescue animals?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, October 27th at 8pm EST
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
- PRIZE SHIPS: The United States
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here Thursday morning for the announcement of our winner. Good luck…
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You guys are quite impressive with your nearly 11,000 entries. So impressive in fact that Ikea decided to change their plans and give away not just one, not just two, but THREE $350 gift cards. That’s over $1000 in gift cards! Thanks Ikea!
So let’s see who the lucky three winners are according to random.org:
- Alyssa Allen (who’s Life Improvement Project would include moving her fam somewhere in the world to help the poverty crisis)
- NEPD (who’d give her wedding florist services away free of charge)
- Jill (who’d give a year working with the Wildlife Conservation Society)
Note: We weren’t paid or perk’d for hosting this giveaway, we just take them on to reward our lovely readers! See our Giveaway FAQs page for more info. Pics from Ikea.
Heather says
IKEA Me!!!! Would love the shopping spree :)
Amy M says
IKEA Me!
I’d start a non-profit that would teach financial management skills, ala Dave Ramsey, to high school kids. So many folks never learn how to properly manage their money, and it’s one of the first steps toward building a solid future. CNN just reported that the average student loan debt is $24,000! And from there it just snowballs, especially in this economy. As a society we’re going more and more into debt… if we could jump start the next generation with the skills necessary to make good financial choices in the future, just think how it could improve their lives and those of their children in the years to come.
suzann R says
IKEA ME!!!
i would definitely try to do something with the animal shelters to stop euthanization.
Erin says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer at a nursing home/assisted living center. I think the elderly need people to help get them through their lonely days.
Kelly V. says
IKEA Me!
With a year, I would find the best ways to assist organizations already in the community that help women and children, as well as help the public schools!
Megan says
IKEA ME! I would spend time feeding people with healthy and filling foods. I think that having anyone have to live hungry every day and wonder where their next meal for their family is coming from – is unnacceptable!!!
Shermi says
IKEA ME!
I would probably on a pre-school or some type of program for toddlers to try and develop a love of reading early on.
I taught my son beginning at age 3 and now he’s 12 and you wont find him without a book nearby.
Or I would work with teen-age girls teaching about self-love and self esteem.
Laurie says
Ikea Me!
Like so many others, I would use my year to rescue animals.
Margot says
IkeaME! I’d volunteer with the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ — gotta love the terrapins!
Kristin says
IKEA me!!
I think I would take the time to help people by providing financial advice to those who are unemployed, lost homes to forclosure, or are getting government assistance.
Miranda says
IKEA Me! I’d go back to West Africa, where I served in the Peace Corps, and build a facility for the local orphan’s association I worked with.
Jenna says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer at an animal shelter for sure! Or I would volunteer at a food bank in my city… with so many homeless people it’s be nice to help the less fortunate.
Jennifer says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer at our local hospital – I would do anything needed (that didn’t require a medical degree, of course!)
Rachel P. says
IKEA ME! If I had $100000 to spend a year working to better others lives I would probably work with a charity (Love Inc.) that gives to low income families. It’s had a lot of use lately with the hard hit people who are lacking jobs.
Heather says
IKEA ME!
Oh how I love IKEA.
I would definitely go to Honduras for a year and work in the orphanages or at the dumps where people are hungry and homeless. I am going in March and I can’t wait!
Steph says
IKEA me! I would definitely work with Habitat for Humanity! I spent my spring breaks in college doing an ‘Alternative Spring Break’ project where we would go to a place in need (I went to build houses in areas effected by hurricane Katrina) and built a house! It was so much fun and so out of my comfort zone which made it even more awesome. The BEST part was meeting the family who the house was going to. I think I was more emotional than her!
Sara R. says
IKEA ME! If I had a year off to volunteer I would go to areas where natural disasters have hurt those who can least afford it, and help those who were hardest hit to rebuild their communities and lives.
Teren S. says
IKEA ME!! I would love to work with pregnant teens.
Brianna young says
Ikea me! I would help abused women and families get back on their feet!
Amy says
IKEA Me!
I think I would like to spend a year working with homeless animals.
Cynthia G says
“IKEA ME!”
English as a Second Language students in our school district have many difficulties navigating through school life. I’d like to have more time to create partnerships between families to assist with school events, activities, and daily struggles.
Jo Anne says
IKEA ME!!! Please, please, please!!! If I could have a year sabbatical to volunteer, I would want to start a Health Camp educating people on healthy food choices and exercise programs.
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year working with young low income mothers to help them get on their feet financially and helping them to get used to all the demands that come with being a mother.
Kayla says
Ikea me, please! With a year off, I would start reading groups for very young children and their moms. As a teacher I see firsthand the benefits of reading – early and often. It all starts at home and I’d love the chance to spread the word.
Jess says
IKEA ME (PLEASE!)
If I could do it for a year, and my job would be there when I left, I would leave to teach English in Mexico, specifically Tijuana. I volunteered there for only two weeks before, teaching English to migrant workers, and the level of their passion for learning has stayed with me forever. The yearning they have to create a better life for themselves and their families is heartbreaking.
Brooke says
IKEA ME!
What is great about what I do already is that I wouldn’t have to change anything to spend a year helping others- that’s already what I do for a living! I have the best job in the world as a pastor to a super progressive socially minded congregation- we have an afterschool program, a garden to provide food for the food pantry, fine arts programming… I can’t imagine doing anything else!
Amy says
IKEA ME!! I would spend time helping the elderly, which sadly, is a generation that often gets overlooked!
Allison @ House of Hepworths says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!
I’m sure there’s not a chance in hell I’ll actually win considering the number of entries so far, but I might as well try! I laughed and squealed when I saw your giveaway because as luck would have it, just this morning I was obsessing over all the IKEA stuff I want to buy for my family room. See for yourself:
See House of Hepworths Family Room here
Please pick me! I’d finally be able to finish this room once and for all!!!
Lauren says
Ikea me!
I would spend the year traveling to volunteer in orphanages, especially helping with infants – who need and deserve to be held.
hannah says
IKEA me!
I think I’d like to do something with murals and kids- getting them involved in art.
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I am lucky enough to help people every day in my career. I work for Child Protective Services and empower families to become independent and self-sufficient.
Lindsay Jo says
IKEA me!
If I could take a year off, I would do street medicine (which is providing basic medical care to homeless people living in the streets) in Barcelona! I’m a medical student in Pittsburgh and I just heard about a Spanish organization that does exactly that!
Amie S. says
IKEA ME!
I would work full-time tutoring adult ESL students. They are the most excited and hardest working students I have ever taught. I was fortunate enough to teach several adults basic English before graduate school took over my life!
Carolyn says
IKEA ME!
I already do what I would do if I had a year off… I teach!
Susy M says
IKEA Me. I work in a great hospital system down in South Broward (South Florida). We are in the process of building a new Children’s Hospital and I would work in whatever was needed to get that going.
Kirstin L. says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the year repairing and rebuilding homes to make sure that everyone is warm, dry and safe.
Kate says
IKEA ME!!!
I would either work on a clean drinking water project in rural south america, or start a legal service provider right here in the good ol’ US for the people who fall through the cracks – the ones that are working and have too much money for legal aid type programs but who have no realistic hope of paying for a lawyer if they need one.
Whitney H Jones says
IKEA ME, please!!!
I would probably volunteer with the elderly. I just love them to death and feel like they should feel loved and appreciated when they may have no one else around.
Melissa says
IKEA me!
I would spend a year restoring wetlands and other habitats in crisis!
Patty says
IKEA ME!!!!!
I would love to set something up in Silicon Valley to help all of our New Homeless!
Angela K. says
IKEA Me!
Oh my goodness, I don’t think I could pick just one volunteer oppurtunity! I’d have to sign up to help at an equistrian center for disabled children, and an animal shelter where I could walk and play with all the dogs and cats, and I’d want to volunteer with the American Cancer Society (in honor of my mother, and in memory of my father), and in my spare time I’d definitely have to build a home with Habitat for Humanity since I know my husband loves construction and would definitely pitch in too!
Susan Peltz says
IKEA ME! If I had a year I would volunteer in a Baltimore City public school. I was born and raised in Baltimore and love the city. My husband and I both attended public schools, but the city schools have taken a downturn in the past 30 years (yes, I’m that old) My children had the benefit of wonderful Baltimore County public and private schools. The children of the city are at a loss, between single parent homes and politics they need someone who is there just for them.
Lauren says
IKEA ME … i’d volunteer at st jude’s for children’s cancer
Katelyn S. says
IKEA Me!
If I could take a year off I’d spend it BUILDING A GIANT YHL SHRINE!!!!
Ok ok that’s not very selfless. I’d like to work with baby animals in Africa! There’s a program that will send you over and you nurse abandoned baby animals back to health :)
Much love,
Katelyn
Melanie Ward says
IKEA Me!
I would purchase some land to start a community garden in a low-income area. Among the usual gardening tasks, I would spend the year teaching the residents how to compost, maintain the garden without the use of pesticides and water responsibly by catching and using rain water. This would bring the residents together and teach the children how important it is to take of ourselves by taking care of the earth. Plus, everyone deserves to eat healthy not just those who can afford all the expensive organic produce in the supermarket.
Amy Anderson says
IKEA ME!!! I would spend my one year opening an after-school program in south Mississippi. Children are our future!! Many of them do not have the same opportunities as those in other more fortunate places.
mel zeiger says
IKEA ME!!! i would open a kennel for members of the military to bring their dogs/cats when they have to go on tour.
Nutmegs says
IKEA ME!
I would first take some time to visit the child we sponsor in Africa, but would probably stay down there to dig up clean water systems for different rural towns in the area.
Beverly Gooch says
IKEA ME! If I had a year to spend helping others I would work to rescue animals of all shapes and sizes.
whitney says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer to help children with schoolwork or adults with literacy. It’s rewarding to watch people learning new concepts.