*** 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.
Carly says
IKEA ME!
Please, please, please. I would spend a year helping habitat for humanity.
Livy says
IKEA ME!
I’m actually a volunteer right now, for an unemployment and career building office. So far I have been there for a month and love it.
If I had to do it for a year though, it’d be in abused women shelters or something to do with kids!
Karen says
IKEA Me! I’d volunteer at local nursing care facilities and host a Bible study in my home.
Jimmy says
IKEA ME!
With a year and the money I would start a non-profit martial arts program in troubled areas. Martial Arts are what saved me from my horrible upbringing.
maddie says
IKEA ME!
I think I’d do something with kids in south america : )
Kelsi says
Ikea me!!!
I’d love to start a nonprofit awareness group for the mentally ill.
Scott says
IKEA ME!
Missy says
IKEA Me!!!
After being inspired by my daughter, a current Peace Corps volunteer serving in Zambia, I would love to spend a year volunteering in Africa. Malaria prevention, HIV education and food security are all areas that interest me.
Jennifer says
IKEA ME!!! How fun would $350 be!!
I couldn’t go far for a year, but I think I would spend most of my time, energy and efort at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, NY. They breed guide dogs they then go and live with puppy raisers (my mom is actually raising her 5th guide dog). It’s an amazing non profit. The raisers actually take on all the responsibility of the puppy. Once they are 1-2 years they are sent back to NY for more amazing training. If they pass those test they are matched with a blind person. The 2 of them go through more intesive training togeter and then graduate! These puppies are raised to give a blind person independance!
What a great thing for IKEA to support!
Thanks guys!
Paula Taylor says
IKEA ME!
If I had a buttload of money to spend on helping people, I would
a) run some programs to help people learn more about diabetes, how to avoid it, and how to control it.
b) help families of sick people be able to afford to be away from home and close to their loved ones in far away hospitals.
c) help the local no-kill shelter and pay for animals to be spayed and neutered.
Kathryn W says
IKEA ME!
Working with orphans around the globe….
Sue says
IKEA ME!
I would develop a program that provided Christmases and birthdays to needy children.
Dorice says
IKEA ME!
Tutoring program for middle schools in inner city DC.
Jessaca says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give, I would want to spend it giving the community free yoga and health classes. So many people don’t know the profound impact yoga can have on anyone and everyone’s life–it’s not just for hippies. It’s for people who care about their bodies! And as someone living with MS, I know more than anything that I need my body to keep moving. With the rise of obesity, I’d want people to have a free and fun outlet to rediscover what their bodies can do and put away the scale and model magazines. I think also learning more about what our bodies need is essential to living the best life we can and hopefully paying it forward to other people!
Erin D says
I would work with a children’s literacy program.
Meredith V says
Ikea me!
I would start an afterschool program for high school english language learners. They have do learn 2x what their English speaking peers do and cope with the trauma of immigration.
Maggie says
IKEA ME!!!
If I could take the year off, I would definitely work with PetFinder and help animals into forever homes!
MacKenzie T says
IKEA me! If I could take a year off to help others, I would volunteer with the Crisis Nursery. I’ve helped out there in the past, and it’s an amazing organization! Parents who are in need of child care, for various reasons (drug issues, domestic violence, trying to get back on their feet, homelessness, etc) can drop off their child, and receive free counseling for whatever issues they are facing. They can rest assured knowing that their child(ren) will be in a safe and loving environment, complete with hot meals, toys, and non violence.
Kristina says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend a year helping others, it would be hard to choose one thing. I’d like to volunteer Habitat for Humanity. Next I would probably spend time volunteering for the national/state parks and state historic sites. Our cultural and natural resources need to be preserved for generations to come.
Carrie says
IKEA ME!
I would want to do something with children
Sarah McBride says
Ikea Me! I would work underprivileged women on pregnancy prevention and work with new moms to encourage breastfeeding.
jenni says
IKEA me! Our three year old daughter has a very rare disorder called Batten Disease, and is under the care of Hospice. There aren’t enough people raising awareness or funding for research for a treatment or cure, and I would LOVE to have a year to help the Batten Disease Support and Research Association do those things.
erin says
ikea me! i love ikea’s textiles!
if i had a year sabbatical, i would ramp up a volunteer project i’m trying to work on now–community asset mapping for neighborhoods in my city.
lauren says
IKEA me!
i’d love to help the kids in my neighborhood who need mentoring & someone to teach them simple skills for success.
Ashley A. says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend my year helping underdeveloped countries improve their access to health care.
Jennifer says
“IKEA Me!” I would spend a year working at a pregnacy center helping mom’s with unexpected pregnancy’s get on their feet to be great moms.
Brooke says
IKEA ME! Pretty please!
Erica says
IKEA ME!!
I would spend the year working with children of single-parent homes.
Mariel Saunders says
Ikea Me!!! If I had a year to help others, I would train my dogs to be therapy dogs and go volunteer at hospitals and schools. My dogs are a little past the trainable phase, but they have alot of love to give!
Jen says
Ikea me.
I would spend the year helping people in Africa.
Ellen says
Ikea me!
I would not only like to work with Habitat for Humanity, I would love to be able to use the time off to put time and effort into working with student chapter of Habitat at the university where I work to get them even more involved.
Tiffany says
IKEA ME, I would spend a year working with teen girls in crisis situations and open a teenage maternity home-which has been my dream since 7th grade. I still have the binder of plans, business proposals and blueprints for the home :)
Anastasia says
IKEA Me! A great giveaway for sure!
I would spend the year helping the hungry and the homeless in our city. I’d spend some time volunteering for a homeless shelter and helping or starting local programs that could effect change on a larger scale.
Ryan Mc says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to give, I would travel the world and help build community farm programs.
Colleen C says
IKEA ME!!
I would for sure give back within my local communities. I spend some time in some local schools helping teachers to mold kids minds. I’d also clean up parks and build some more sidewalks so that there would be more neighbor-ly lovin going on!
Amy D says
IKEA ME!! !
If I had a year to give, I would open a small, assisted living facility for people with Alzheimer’s.
Danielle says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely put it towards the clean water for everyone initiative.
Kelly says
IKEA ME!!! I would spend my time in an animal shelter, I selfishly can’t bring myself to volunteer b/c it makes me so sad :( I want to get over it and be able to help animals.
Lisa P says
IKEA Me!!!!
Kelli says
IKEA me!
I already help out animals in some capacity by working at my local SPCA as an Adoption Counselor. However, I’d like to expand by educating the public about the differences between reputable breeders vs. backyard breeders vs. puppy mills.
Shelter animals come from the latter two and are the sources behind the pet overpopulation and the reasons why millions of healthy pets are euthanized every year simply because there is no room to house them all.
If spending the year for this purpose meant I didn’t have to go to my full time job, sign me up! The slogan “don’t breed or buy while shelter pets die” couldn’t be more true!
Rhonda Hibdon says
IKEA me! I would love to be able to teach piano lessons free to kids who otherwise couldn’t afford lessons.
NancyV908 says
IKEA me! (Please.)
Hmmm, so many causes…I’d work on literacy or hunger or environmental issues, I think. Hard to narrow it down!
Greg says
IKEA ME!!
I would help to start up some youth athletics and help coach kids.
Sonya says
IKEA me!
If I had the opportunity, I would start an all natural farm and garden where my husband and I could not only provide healthy food to community members but also educate children and families about the importance of growing your own food and how to do it at home.
Nina says
IKEA me!
I am just finishing my degree in library science and really want to work with children to get them involved with books and reading! Reading can be the ticket for kids’ future in many ways! I would be thrilled to work with kids in shelters and also in schools where the library is under-staffed and under-funded.
Lee says
“IKEA Me!” I want to start a non-profit to help people raise money for any charity they want. There is money out there to give to great charities! I want to make it easier for people. Plus, my wife is obsessed with Ikea
Natalie N says
IKEA ME!
I would give a year to create more youth centers in downtown los angeles.
Kim Mauch says
IKEA Me!I would love to take a year of work and volunteer at a local animal shelter.
Laura says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to start an after school program for the school where I work. My students currently don’t receive art or music and I’d love to incorporate that!
sam l says
IKEA ME!!! If I had a year off to volunteer, I would most definitely spend it within the schools, as I was crazy inspired by the recent documentary waiting for superman!!!!