*** 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.
Catherine says
IKEA ME!
I think I’d like to spend the year mentoring teens from disadvantaged backgrounds, teaching them skills they might not get otherwise, like entrepreneurship, networking, interviewing, blogging, stress management… basically all the things I wish they taught in high schools.
Alyson says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off to help others, I would find someway to help low-income families. There are so many tools and so much help out there, but there need to be more people guiding the way for those families.
Amy rode says
IKEA ME!
Sarah says
IKEA Me! I work in nonprofit and it is such a rewarding experience. If I had one year, I would focus on early childhood education and after school programs.
Morgan says
Ikea Me!
I would love to work with one of many local charities in our area – I used to travel and do international work in Central America and the Pacific Islands, it would be wonderful to head back to check in on a assortment of projects we completed for schools and orphanages as well. Locally in San Diego, there are too many to choose from but a special passion of mine would be to work with underprivileged expectant moms.
Anne says
Ikea me! I think I’d tutor low-income kids.
Meredith Reuter says
IKEA ME!!
I am getting my masters in speech-language pathology so I would probably do something along the lines of providing children in some local inner city schools with free speech-language therapy. Communication is a vital part of life, and so many kids struggle with their speech/language.
jesse says
Ikea Me!
I am going to school to get a degree that will allow me to help people for the rest of my life :)
chacha says
IKEA Me!
Holy comments, Batman. I think that while I love animals I would have to spend a year helping out humans. Maybe a poor inner city area, working with kids since if we can get them on the right path, then they’ll return good stuff to their communities and society.
Daniel says
IKEA me!!!
I would go on a mission trip for a year – Kenya, India, Southeast Asia, etc.
Heather says
IKEA Me! I would love to help out in schools in my area.
Kimberly says
“Ikea Me!” I would start a program much like “Curb Appeal the Block” and go all over New York state looking to beautify the poorest areas of each city/town with donated materials and time.
Angela Starosta says
IKEA Me!
Lorien says
Ikea me! Please o please, Ikea me!
If I had a year off, I would found a breastfeeding support centre where mamas, especially those headed back to work with young babes, could come for judgement-free support and quality, evidence-based information on how to meet their nursing goals. I would love to see young mamas and the economically disadvantaged get the warm, caring support they need. It would do good for babes and mamas!
Elizabeth D. from GA says
IKEA Me! If I could take one year off I would love to volunteer at rescue shelters AND local nursing homes! Every Friday at the nursing home were I work myself & 2 other therapists bring in our animals. It’s most of our patient’s favorite day to come down to the rehab gym! I can’t tell you the difference the dogs make in their faces and participation. I would love to make that happen for more places – therapy dogs (in this sense of the word) are very much needed.
Megan B. says
IKEA me, please!
I’m a third year medical student (interested in pediatrics) and would absolutely love the opportunity to volunteer and train for a year in a global health program focused on improving maternal and child health abroad.
Charity says
IKEA Me!
I would do something in adoption/foster care.
B. says
IKEA Me! I’d love to teach underprivileged youth soccer. It teaches so many life skills and helps kids bond and form real relationships. I used to coach and play, but as life goes, so does the time.
Hannah Kuhl says
IKEA Me!
An Animal Shelter! For sure!
Jessica says
IKEA Me! :)
I would love to volunteer with an organization like Habitat for Humanity, or a similiar program abroad.
Thanks for this!
Courtenay says
Ikea me! I would love to take a year off and work at a halfway house
Meghan says
IKEA ME!
Oh, there are so many different things one could do! But I think volunteering with an organization for children would be at the top of my list.
Amber J says
IKEA ME! Work as a midwife in Namibia. And take my family along!
Jordan says
IKEA Me!
I would join Teach for America.
Stephanie says
IKEA Me!
I would start community gardens to grow healthy, tasty food and get people together.
Molly W. says
IKEA ME! Not sure what I’d do, but I think it might have to do with helping disadvantaged people – youth or adults – gain the skills they need to be productive members of the workforce, whether that be in reading, financial literacy, interview skills, an appropriate work wardrobe, etc.
Christy Grubbs says
IKEA ME! I would take the year to start an after school art program for the local city schools to encourage students to express themselves in a safe place!!
Jennifer Mulvihill says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend one year focused on giving back to others I would my music degree to spend my time teaching music lessons to children whose parents cannot afford quality music education.
Patience says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer to help train dogs for the disabeled, volunteer to help with horse therapy, and probably spend some time being a Big Sister or something along those lines. :)
Ivy says
IKEA ME!!! I would love to take my son and volunteer at a ranch. Help clean up, and take care of the barn and animals.
Karen says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to get involved with an organization that helps improve self esteem of young girls, like girl scouts.
Katie says
IKEA ME!!
I would definitely rescue animals!
Samantha says
IKEA ME!
I would love to volunteer at a no kill animal shelter.
Stacey Woods says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!
If I could take a year off (I’m a teacher), I would actually take the opportunity to go teach English to kids in another country. :o)
Becky O. says
“IKEA Me!”
After-school music, theater and art programs are near to my heart. Children can be empowered through the arts!
Megan says
IKEA Me!
If I could take a year off, I would teach English to underprivileged kids in different parts of the world.
Nicki says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer my services for a year. I would go out and help out with animal shelters and do what I could for them.
Charlotte says
IKEA ME!
I would donate more time at the local animal shelter.
Holly Neill says
IKEA me!
If I had a year off, I would work on environmental research and try to find better ways for people to have better indoor air quality.
Amy T. says
Ikea ME PULEEEASE!!!
I think I would teach underpriveleged women how to cook from scratch and coupon without it taking a ton of time. A lot of women wish they could save money on these things and yet don’t have time or weren’t taught. Weird, I know.
Natalie Anne says
IKEA me!!!
I would take a year and work with an after school program for less fortunate children. I would want to work with them on school stuff, athletics and exercise, and healthy eating ideas.
Morgan Grunewald says
Ikea Me!
I would spend my time teaching kids about proper nutrition and helping to develop good eating habits.
ilana says
Ikea me!
Nicola L. says
IKEA ME!
I would use that money to take a year off and work with Coppers Dream, an organization in N. California that works tirelessly to rescue and place dogs in new homes. We were able to adopt our adorable dog from them last year, and I would love to be able to help them save more dogs who are needlessly put down simply because the pound runs out of room.
Kristin T says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer to work with young children. Any way that could help!
Daniel says
Ikea me!
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
I would work with Habitat for Humanity building houses.
Lisa says
IKEA ME!
I am getting my masters in social work now so if I could take a year off, I would start my dream organization of a community center that offers counseling and resources for all the issues that low-income families face!
Sara says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
Sarah says
IKEA me!
I’d take a year and organize a mentoring program for at-risk high school students.