*** 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.
Jessica says
Ikea Me!! If given the oppurtunity, I would work with children with AIDS.
Jordan G says
IKEA ME!
I would start a free sports program to keep kids busy after school. I know a lot of coaches of various sports and I would ask them all to volunteer to provide free coaching and mentoring to young kids in my area who otherwise can’t afford it. I believe that team sports can provide invaluable lessons for young kids about teamwork and discipline and working toward a goal.
Lori says
IKEA me!!!
I would definitely volunteer to help animals in some way. Maybe open a shelter, offer spay/neuter services and help abandoned & abused animals find a loving home.
Lori
Thrifty Decor Mom
Nyssa says
IKEA Me! I would spend time helping my church minister through a missions trip or help building other churches.
Michelle says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would do something to help with the homeless situation in my city.
Amy L. says
IKEA ME!
I’d start a community garden at a local elementary or middle school. Start a program centered around nutrition for school-aged kids, a la Jamie Oliver.
Thanks!
April says
IKEA ME!
A year off spent helping children and animals would be my ideal way of giving back!
Crystal B says
IKEA Me!
I would work with young girls and women on building heir self esteem and always putting themselves first. Especially ladies in the 20’s, often times we get married and start fast paced careers and we put so many other people’s needs before our own or put up with unacceptable behavior when we as women deserve so much more.
Kate says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give, I think I’d like to try to set up a re-use center in my community.
Landry says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year volunteering for Habitat For Humanity!
Lauren says
IKEA ME!
Holy cow! What an awesome giveaway!
I would provide free child care for working moms. It’s so hard to afford!
Corinne says
IKEA me!
If I had a year off, I would love to do something with an animal rescue group or start my own. I’m a huge supporter of programs that provide help to Pitbulls and other bully breeds that have received a bad rap. Pitbulls are beautiful, loving dogs and ANY dog can injure someone if provoked. The more knowledge people have about such breeds, the more likely the breed is to become supported and cherished.
Danielle H says
IKEA ME!!
If I could take a year to do something helpful, I would dedicate my time to rescue animals. I can’t stand seeing the way some animals are being treated. I would set up a rescue and educate people about animal cruelty.
Mandy Rose says
IKEA ME!!!! I would love to go Haiti, or other 3rd world countries to build safe, warm homes for families that live in unbelievable living conditions.
Lisa S. says
IKEA ME!!! I would do more volunteer work at my church.
Emily says
Ikea Me! (Pretty please! :)
As far as taking a year off to help others…it would most likely be teenage parents. The statistics surrounding teens who become pregnant are somewhat bleak and I’d like to do something, whatever I could, to help make their futures more bright and full of opportunities.
katie shively says
IKEA ME! Love Ikea!
Jayashree says
IKEA me !
I would do something to help the little kids, if I had
an year.
Megan Stewart says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would spend a year working with little kids and teaching them music! It is amazing what music does to help kids learn!
Stefanie says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give, I would probably do tons of different things, working my way across the country. One charity i’ve heard about goes through neighborhoods and fixes up run-down playgrounds and turns empty lots into playgrounds or community gardens. Something that enhances the area for all. I think starting out with something that helps the little ones get involved is great.
Heather says
Ikea ME!!! I think I would help moms and babies in the postpartum period. I would go into homes and volunteer as a postpartum doula helping new moms with breast feeding, infant care, household chores all while supporting the whole family in one of the biggest adjustments of their lives. I would also love to take a trip to Africa and help mom’s and babies there as well.
Y says
Ikea me!!! I need to furnish an office and playroom desperately!
Samantha says
IKEA Me!
(Please!!!)
If I had a year to spend helping others I think I’d do so at a food pantry or soup kitchen, or something along those lines. I’ve helped at a Thanksgiving dinner every year for the past few years in my area and really enjoyed it.
PS…I’ve been a super “lurker” but HAD to chime in on this one. Who doesn’t love Ikea? And who doesn’t love your blog?
Megan B. says
IKEA Me! If I had one year of my time to give, I would start a non-profit organization that would provide some much needed after-school activities, tutoring, etc. to kids. So many are left unsupervised in the afternoons and evenings due to their parents’ work schedules. I’d like to give them a place to go.
Shanna says
IKEA ME!
Wow a whole year… I would love to travel somewhere and help with environmental issues. Very vague, I know.
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
There is no less than ten things I’d do to give back if I were given a year to do so. What a gift!
MaryKate says
IKEA ME!
I wish I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I love working with teens (I teach high school), so I would love the ability to keep working with them, just outside the classroom instead.
Kristen says
IKEA ME!
I’d like to help with developing better elementary school programs. With funding getting cut left and right, it’s time we started thinking outside the normal music/art/P.E. rotating specials and figure out a way to cut costs while still maintaining the curriculum.
Kathryn G says
“IKEA ME!” If I had one year to help others, I’d probably spend it overseas teaching english.
Jane says
IKEA me!
I think I would start an after-school art program
QS says
IKEA Me!
I’m not sure what I would do specifically; however, I would probably work with children or the military – or maybe combine the two somehow. Whatever way, it would be great to help affect someone’s life in a positive way.
Lea says
IKEA Me!
I would like to volunteer to work with Doctors without Borders.
Colleen says
IKEA ME!!
I would spend a year traveling and teaching in other countries! I’m a teacher, and I would love to spend time in other areas helping students that have never gotten the opportunity to get an education.
Kelley says
IKEA ME!
I would do Habitat for Humanity- everyone needs a place to call home. If I could take a year off, I would travel to Africa and help with organizations helping women. Reading all these posts makes me wanna get off this computer and go do something nice for someone!
Alison K says
Ikea me! Right now I volunteer once a week in a NICU holding and cuddling babies and other things and I really love it so I’d spend the time doing something along those lines.
Eryn says
Ikea me! I would love to take a year off and volunteer with children who are burn survivors. I volunteered last summer with kids from Camp Janus in Houston and they stole me heart! :)
Erika says
IKEA me!! I’d definitely work with educational enrichment program.
Cherri Porter says
Ikea Me! I pride myself on being able to weave through that store forwards and back for exactly what I want and am always totally bummed when they rearrange.
Megan Bray says
IKEA ME!! I would start programs through the schools that did parent outreach. I think that parents (especially low income) need tools to help their children succeed. It all starts at home :)
Leslie A says
IKEA Me!! I would work with my sister in law who is a missionary in Africa.
Soleil says
Ikea Me!
I would love to work with Habitat for Humanity or similar charity.
Yolanda says
IKEA me!
I would work in the NICU, giving newbies some much-needed cuddling.
liz says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give I would probably do exactly what I do know – ABA therapy for autistic children, only do it for free for the families!
Laura says
Ikea me!
I would love to provide “outdoor recreational therapy” to the disabled. Through swimming, hiking/exploring, camping, skiing, etc, I could help build self esteem, physical development, and overall quality of life.
Audra says
Ikea Me!
I would help with our community clean up project and after school programs for the kids in our town!
mrsluukkonen says
IKEA me! If I could do a project like that, it would include helping pregnant women in some way…either pregnant women who need education and supplies in 3rd world countries, or a program for pregnant teens in the US…something like that would be my dream! :)
Liz says
Ikea Me! I’d spend my year working with autistic children. My mom has a classroom of 6 fairly high functioning kids and just doesn’t have the resources to make their classroom really great. I think it would be great to develop programs and facilities to help with this in and around my city and to be able to include the kids that aren’t able to be in the programs at their schools.
Jennie says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give back, I would work on an adult literacy program – not sure why I don’t just go ahead and get involved with this!
Katie says
Ikea me! If I had a year, I would volunteer with the local Meals on Wheels program and at the senior center.
Kristen says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to do something for supporting military families. My best friend’s husband was deployed to Afghanistan 3 weeks ago and it’s breaking her heart to be so far away from him for so long. Maybe set up mobile communication stations on bases or an online intranet specific to military wives.