*** 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.
Dayna says
Woah!!! Uh, yo, random.org, IKEA ME! That would be MOI!
A childhood wish of mine was to built a cool place for foster children to live. The children of ages that normally are overlooked for foster-care or adoption. The thought that I would actually be able to pull something like that off on my own was often disregarded yet never forgotten.
However, with 100k in my pocket, the area I live in, my ability to persuade, the broad range of green, inexpensive building materials, and twelve months…I could not only fulfill my wish once, but twice.
So, get your pick on, random.org!
Heidi A says
IKEA ME!!
If I had a year to give, I would volunteer as a “mother mentor” to the gals at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. You walk with them through their pregnancy!
Nina Dee says
IKEA ME!
The idea that I have is not quite an after school program, but one of my 4th grade students came up with an awesome idea for a summer camp for needy children that allows them to stay busy over the summer (and supervised) while doing various service projects to give back to the community – sounds like a total win-win, right?! Well, ever since he shared his vision, it’s been a dream of mine too!
Maribeth Thomas says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help my school provide financial assistance for special needs children.
Kelly says
IKEA Me! What a generous giveaway!
If I could take a year off and volunteer, I would first get my dog Zoey certified as a therapy dog, then I would spend my time taking her with me to hospitals to cheer up the patients!
Dan says
IKEA ME! I’d love to help young children learn the basics of math and geography. Every child should have the opportunity to learn and have fun doing it.
Jill says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give, I would volunteer to teach music at a school without any music program.
Anita says
IKEA Me!
I would start a program to help low income elderly. So many older people are forgotten about by their families or have no one left- I would work to provide not only basic necessities, but also fun activities to help make their final years more comfortable.
Kristin Blake says
IKEA ME!!! If I could take a full year off, I would definitely start a Pit Bull rescue. My husband and I have rescued two pits and since have become so passionate about them. Helping pits in need, getting them into great homes and families and spreading the word about them being misunderstood is one of our passions. I would love to be able to work with this amazing breed of dogs and hope to make a difference between them and people :)
Briel K. says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off to do some volunteering I would definitely try to find something having to do with animals. I’m more of an animal person than a people person!
jessie horney says
IKEA ME!
I would start a non-profit theater company for kids in my arts-neglected community.
Stacie Gobin says
IKEA Me!!!!
Lara says
IKEA ME!
If I had one year to give, I would devote the time to helping improve my local public education system. I’m currently in school, majoring in elementary education. The education system definitely needs some help! Teachers and schools are so under-funded.
{brittany jones} says
IKEA me! I’d do something to help children.
Ben says
IKEA ME
I’d work to build up a sports league for special needs kids.
Melissa says
IKEA ME!!!
I would help break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration by working with a mentoring program that is geared directly at providing mentors to children who have a parent incarcerated.
Shane says
IKEA Me! I’ve volunteered previously for a Technology Access center which helps connect people who have disabilities or functional limitations to assistive technology resources. Lots of cool hi and low tech solutions I wish I had more time to learn more about.
Ken says
IKEA me! I would love to spend a year raising/ training dogs to be companions – seeing eye dogs, nursing home dogs, etc.
ashley says
Ikea Me! I would spend a year working doing medical missions in the Dominican Republic.
Julie T says
Ikea Me!
I think I would like to help at a childrens hospital. It kills me to see those sick babies. I would love to find a way to brighten their day.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
Wow, I would help people in a 3rd world country get adequate water and shelter. I would find resources to show them how to grow crops which were suited for their climate and life. What an amazing gift IKEA is giving in helping people in need!
Ryan Davidson says
IKEA Me!
I’d furnish my unborn baby girl’s new room! Brown and Pink love for all!!!
Lindsey T says
IKEA ME!
I would start an after school program education and encouraging children to be active. Childhood obesity is off the charts right now and I hope to some day start a traveling indoor cycling program for pre-teens where we visit different schools teaching them about the benefits of biking!
Stephanie Sampson says
IKEA ME!! I would volunteer helping the homeless population where I live. I would like to help at the soup kitchens and clothing drives and getting them back on their feet.
Laurie Greene says
Ikea Me!
I am a clinical psychologist. I would voluntarily deploy overseas to help with the mental healthcare of our military men and women.
NiteOwl06 says
IKEA Me! – DEFINITELY
If I could spend one year helping others, I’d create a multimedia project – web based, with video and audio interviews, written articles, local stats for major cities and photo slide shows – that focuses on an issue many of us don’t think about daily: What happens to the children of parents in prison?
The U.S. imprisons more people than any industrial nation; what happens to the children of those parents. Statistically, they are more likely to end up in prison themselves. It’s a huge drain on the economy and, we are putting people in a position where they don’t live up to their full potential.
I think that, by telling the stories of these young people, I could inspire people to become a mentor, become advocates for local programs that support children with parents in prison and spur legislators to set aside funding that helps reconnect these families.
Maggie O says
Ikea ME!
As this blog shows everyday, having a place that you can call home is important. I would do pro bono interior design work for under privileged teens so that they can have that same feeling.
Hattie says
IKEA ME!
As a teacher, I always say, “If I could open my own school…” I’d love to either start a small charter school or travel to impoverished schools, setting up 21st century learning environments.
Chrystine says
IKEA ME!
I am active in child welfare causes and would love to develop a program that would help support families that are at risk for entering the child protection system.
Christine Ankeny says
IKEA ME!
So many things I’d like to do . . .
* Volunteer at numerous local organizations (food pantries, homeless shelters, etc)
* Start some kind of children’s summer camp (maybe for handicap, underprivileged, etc)
* Go on a mission/volunteer trip oversees
The possibilities are endless!!!!
Diana Schneider says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to have a place for homeless people to be able to come in and be sheltered from the weather and even perhaps for them to live there and get a second chance at life.
Shannon R says
IKEA ME!
I’d either use the year to volunteer with elementary age kids or I’d do work overseas in India.
Meghan says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to do philanthropic work, I would work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and donate my time and $$ to the cause. My brother was diagnosed with Diabetes when we was 11 years old, and so far there is no cure. They are making leaps and bounds with technology for Diabetes management, and I would love to help.
Erin says
IKEA ME! I would like to spend the year working with new mother’s in need. Educating them on the importance of dental hygiene and acting as a post-partum dula, helping them through the first few weeks.
Briana says
IKEA ME!!!
I would spread the LOVE and would work at a bunch of different non-profits :) I can’t support just one cause!
julie says
IKEA ME! I would love to work in a public health clinic in El Salvador
Brenda C says
IKEA ME!!
I would volunteer with youth in the St. Louis area. This is such a great town, that is slowly falling to shambles around us! We really need to create better programs to help these kids stay on the right path!
Betsy says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to give, I’d volunteer at Best Friends animal sanctuary in Utah. They do such amazing things every day, and I’d love to be able to help them do even more for animals in need!
Courtney says
IKEA ME!
I can’t decide! I would either take the year off to work with special needs children, which is what I am in grad school for, so I will be able to do that soon, anyways! Or, I would use the money to rescue dogs. My husband and I have two rescue puppies, and they are great!
ava says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year, I’d create a program to remind people why classical music is important and amazing.
Mallory Hanna says
IKEA ME! I’d probably set up scholarship programs and send childrens books to needy kids…
Kelli says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help out elderly widows with needed home improvement problems.
jasmine says
IKEA ME!!!
If I could take a year off I would donate my time to Hab for Humanity and build homes across the world.
Sarah McKinney says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. I would also spend time volunteering at my school (I am a teacher), helping other teachers and my administration do the kinds of things our jobs never leave time for but that would make our school and community a better place to learn and teach in.
Kristie K says
IKEA ME! (man oh man do I love that place!)
I would definitely have to take some time and find an organization i’d like to work with to help needy children. After becoming a Mom this year I feel like I need to share the love I have with my daughter with others, and I think I could help make a difference a child’s life.
nisha says
IKEA ME!
Katherine Arthurs says
IKEA ME!!! If I had a year I would love to volunteer to teach Home Economics! This program has been cut at most public high schools. And I always considered the lessons I learned in high school Home Ec as necessary life skills. Knowing how to cook, clean, shop, sew and keep a home budget were invaluable and not taught in any other venue. These skills got me through tough times when I didn’t have the cash for eating out or buying new clothes and even in decorating my house. Having these skills helps teens prepare for adult life and are sorely missed in the schools today.
Yvonne P. says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give I’d spend it rescuing and placing abandoned/homeless animals.
Kelly says
IKEA ME! I would spend my year working in a mental health clinic or a drug and alcohol rehab center.
Aly says
IKEA ME!!!
Volunteering for a year . . . My husband and I have been trying to figure out how to do just that. We have been involved with an amazing organization called Mothers Without Borders (motherwithoutborders.org). They do some seriously amazing things in Sub-Saharan Africa and all around the world. We would love to spend a few years working in Africa for this organzation. We have spoken with the founder and the only thing missing is finances. We have started to look into sponsoring but haven’t had any luck yet. With this money we could take care of our own needs and the needs of so many others! What an incredible giveaway!