*** 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…
******************************
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.
Ileana says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help at an orphanage abroad!
Becca says
IKEA ME! If I had a year, I would volunteer my time in a rural area of a developing country teaching the students. Maybe in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, etc.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I’d go to Colombia and volunteer teaching English and helping do engineering projects in an underserved town. And I’d convince my Colombian boyfriend to come with me. :)
Sam Ries says
IKEA me! If I had a year I would probably find an arts/theatre for the kids program to work with as a teaching artist in an area that does not have access.
Julie L says
IKEA ME! I would prepare a set list of old standards to go around and sing at nursing homes (something I’ve always wanted to do). I would get to know the residents and listen to their stories.
Leah says
IKEA Me!
(Please!)
If I had a year to give back, I would love to do community outreach that involves sustainability and alternative energy, AND volunteer at the local Humane Society.
sarah g says
IKEA ME!
I would love to work with kids, in particular doing tutoring/mentoring.
Maria says
IKEA me!! I already give, even though it’s my job. I’m a public school teacher and I spend every day teaching children in a low-income area. If I had a year off for service, I would focus on tutoring them after-school and enriching their lives with fun clubs and taking them on field trips!
Jackie says
IKEA Me!
For the bonus question, I’d have to give it some detailed thought, but I suspect it would relate to helping refugees once they have arrived in the United States.
Becca says
IKEA ME!
I would like to volunteer working with children in some sort of capacity. Not quite sure what’s all out there.
kimberley says
Ikea ME!!
I love ikea! If I could take a year off, I’d work to help kids– I’m a teacher, and there is never enough time to get everything done! I’d like to help kids who need it– and give extra help to those who need enrichment. Kids are our future!
p.s. You two were great on Nate! <3
Kelly M. says
Ikea me!
I am an animal lover down to my very core, so I would try to devote my time to helping the four-legged friends who can’t help themselves.
Alex Clark says
IKEA Me! And I would give my time to kids with special needs. My brother has Down Syndrome and I have a special place in my heart for children with disabilities.
Debbie says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to volunteer, I would love to help underpriveleged families somehow – perhaps planning fun, free events for families to spend time together without stressing about money.
abby a says
IKEA ME! Baaabby!
one year working with Special Ed or English as Second Language elementary aged inner city children!
Shannon says
IKEA ME!
I would work doing child abuse prevention! We are taking a road trip to Ikea this weekend! Pick me!!!
allison says
IKEA ME
Jo says
IKEA me!! I would work helping branch our local XKAR group to help other kids in our area This local group Xenia Kids and Robots. X.K.A.R. is a science and technology club for school aged children. It was started in 2009 with the mission to empower, inspire and motivate kids to their highest potential in the areas of Science, Technology, Character and Community.
X.K.A.R.’s vision is to help develop kids who will become productive members of a progressive society. Through the development of investigative, technical, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and abilities, we will encourage kids to become science and technology leaders.
Leigh says
IKEA ME
I would definitely put it towards a homeless shelter. Nashville has a great shelter and some wonderful organizations working with the homeless. I might divvy it up between them all!
carole says
Ikea me!
if I could have a year to give, I’d volunteer to work with veterans who are having difficulties after returning home…given the sacrifices that our vets and their families have made, they deserve our support, respect, and assistance.
Shelby says
IKEA ME-what a great giveaway-thanks for the opportunity. I would start a not for profit community garden and farm in my area. I used to work on one and it was powerful to see children connect with their food.
Jean says
IKEA ME!
Thanks for this great give-away!
If I had a year off and $100,000, I’d open a indoor play-yard for kids with special needs.
Katie says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to spend a year (or a lifetime) helping children receive a quality education… and the belief that they can do anything that they set their mind to!
nikki says
IKEA ME! This is such a great question…I would love to spend some time volunteering in a Hatian orphanage. I have friends who recently adopted from Haiti, and I know there is such a need to help care for those little ones.
Shannon says
IKEA Me!I would love to spend a year volunteering at a hospital nursery! I love babies!
Kimberly Pfeiffer says
IKEA ME! I would help hungry children!
Karolina says
IKEA me!!!
Alisa says
IKEA ME! I’d love to go back to an oprhange in Thailand I was at for two weeks in 2001 and serve with those kids again.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
I would love to work to increase literacy in the U.S.
Michaela Ackerman says
IKEA me!
Wow, a year of ministry. I think I would want to visit our Compassion kid in Ethiopia and help his community for a while. I think I would want to do something locally for the remainder of the time. We have a local organization called Samaritan’s Inn that I would like to help out however they could use me.
Jessica M says
IKEA me! I work as an LPC, so I’d love to take a year and meet with those families that typically can’t afford care.
Nikki says
IKEA ME! I’d take a year off to serve overseas in a medical unit.
Ashleigh says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely help out kids who have lost their parents. Kids are our future, and if we don’t spend time and energy investing in them our future will be bleak!
Amy Dayton says
IKEA ME!!! Please! We have been in our new home for just over a year, and my wish list is oh, so long. I am a stay at home mom, so I don’t think I could leave my kids for a whole year. But if I had some free time, I would love to volunteer at local schools. There is no art program at my son’s elementary school, and they are in constant need of volunteers. Education for our kids is critical!
Tracy says
IKEA ME!
I don’t know for sure, but I know I’d want to do something with meaning. Possibly travel somewhere that needs help, help others to get on their feet. Maybe even work with kids here in Chicago, the ones around the corner that could use some help. What a great thing to think about, and overwhelming!
Amy says
“IKEA Me!”
My daughter and I currently volunteer a lot together. I wish we could spend more time volunteering for a local organization that places children with parents (adoption). They don’t just do that, but they also have BBQ’s and other events for the families. It’s awesome!
Thank you for the opportunity. :)
Jennifer says
IKEA Me! If I could spend a year volunteering I would work with children or animals.
Jodie Kirk says
IKEA Me!
I honestly would keep doing what I’m already doing, teaching middle school science to inner city students in the Bronx, NY. Truly love my job, students, etc. I would use the money to fund amazing programs at the school, including real science labs! :D
Alisa says
Ikea Me!
I’d spend a year working with young, down-and-out moms who are struggling to find what it means to be a good, single parent in difficult circumstances. Just so happens there’s a great organization here in VA Beach that’s doing that already, so I know I’d love to partner with them.
Hailey says
IKEA Me! I’d spend more time volunteering with the children I already work with who all have cancer and dedicate my time to coming up with more fun ideas and opportunities for the kids!
Brian says
IKEA Me! I would spend a year doing relief work in Africa.
Sara says
IKEA Me!
I would help families with sick children by helping make sure the other children in the family are supported while the parents support the child in need.
Jennifer says
“IKEA Me!” I would love to take a year off and help those who are homeless for this season of life to get back on their feet.
Jason Windsor says
IKEA Me!
I would organize a free after-school program with tutoring and classes that teach things kids couldn’t learn in school.
Susann Harding says
“IKEA Me!”
I would give my entire year to children with no families … plan trips, have fun and be a big sister and best friend to them, help them with school and every day problems …
Sondra says
IKEA ME!
We already work closely with an organization called Network Tacoma. Network helps homeless families or families that are close to being homeless get back on their feet by finding them housing, counseling, financial planning, etc…
Aliesha says
IKEA ME!
probably something to do with counseling women in difficult circumstances (teen pregnancy, etc.)
Nichole says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off, I would like to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. What a great organization and what a great way to help others get what I’m working towards myself- a place to call my own!
Mallory B says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give I would spend it setting up medical facilities to help women and children in need. I would organize booths for donations of medical supplies and medicines for those in need or homeless. Us Americans need to stick together and help one another out.
Thanks for this awesome give away!
Joy says
IKEA ME!!!! A year off? I would volunteer at our local group called Next Steps. It helps kids who age out of the foster care system find jobs and teaches them life skills. I would also adopt another child-