*** 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.
Denise Mattsen says
“IKEA Me!”
I LOVE Ikea!! It is one of my fav places to go, not just when I need something but to just look around.
I work in an elementary school, and if I got to take a year off I would still be there volunteering and playing with the kids! It’s what I love to do!
Lily says
IKEA Me! If I could take a year off, I would start a non-profit that focuses on counseling sexually abused and exploited children, and offers services to help their families as well.
Meghan says
IKEA ME! I would start an after-school enrichment program for kids in the school where I teach.
Amber says
IKEA ME….I would go to free clinics all around Virginia and offer my services as well as start a ballet class for disabled kids
Katie Jackman says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer with children in some way, maybe at an orphanage overseas.
Robin says
IKEA Me!
I’d continue the project I’m already working on, but be able to devote my full time too it… teaching stress-fitness yoga classes to stress-ed out non-profit workers who give so much of themselves and consequently burn out so quickly.
jennie says
IKEA Me! I just moved into a new house & I have a huge Ikea wish list!
I’d spend a year volunteering with the Innocence Project.
Liz says
IKEA ME I would help those without clean water around the world.
Amanda K says
IKEA ME!
Wow, I know exactly what I would do with a year to help others–working to advocate for orphans and those in need in Ethiopia and/or Haiti. I would love to go to Ethiopia and work towards benefitting drawnfromwater.org!
Kate says
IKEA ME PLEASE <3
It would be a dream to win the year of service- I'd either do an urban gardening initiative or a program for teens who struggle to read.
amanda says
IKEA ME!!
If I had a hear to give I would get involved with GEMS the ‘girls education and mentoring service’ that helps girls who are victims of sex trafficking.
Jessy says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to spend some time in the West Indies setting up a rape crisis program. The issue of rape is one that gets little focus in some of the areas that I have visited. I would love to create a support system for victims and to advocate for them while also educating the community about this terrible crime.
Emily says
Ikea me!! If I had a year to volunteer, I’d start an afterschool program where students would have access to teachers to help out with homework. Not a tutoring program, per se, but so many students don’t have access to the help that they need at home in order to be successful with at-home assignments. I’d love to have it set-up with different activities for when students are finished their homework as well. Having something to do keeps kids out of trouble! — which is always a good thought for us teachers!
CharleneE says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off to volunteer, I’d most definitely work with animals in some capacity.
Lindsay says
IKEA Me
I’d love to spend a year crusading for schools to be able to buy, prepare, and serve local fruits and vegetables in their cafeterias.
Tucker says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to give, I would spend the year working with Kate’s Club to help children who have had a parent or sibling pass away.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME I would be a teacher in third world country
Ashley says
IKEA ME! Please :)
I’d get our sweet deaf English Bulldog certified as a therapy dog (we taught her sign language!) Then I’d love to take her around the special-needs classes to show awesomely different kids that it’s cool to be special.
Liz Pabst says
“Ikea Me!”
I would help special needs children get adaptive bikes.
katy says
IKEA me! I would love to do something with children, perhaps open an orphanage or something!
Sarah C says
IKEA Me!
There are so many things one could do with a year to help people. It would take quite a bit of to time to really think about it and choose just one. One thing that I am interested in is advocacy for creating more nurturing environments for womens birth experiences.
kimberly says
IKEA ME!!! I’d love to help out at a nursing and volunteer. The people that are in these homes helped shape our country. Many times, they are placed there with few visitors. I’d love for them to feel LOVED.
Mauree S says
Ikea Me…please, please, please. I have a wish list of things that I would love. I know exactly where I’d start.
gutenmegan says
IKEA me! I live in D.C., where homelessness is a huge issue that faces a large percentage of the inner city population. I’d love to pour money and time into a project or initiative that would facilitate help for those who need it in my hometown.
Lee Anne says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to serve other people, I would probably want to mentor young families. As a teacher, I have seen so many families who would greatly benefit from some guidance and support. However, it would be fun to just sit around and watch my own kids. ;-)
Stephanie B says
Ikea me!
If I had a year to volunteer I would teach in the South Bronx where some of the most impoverished families live.
Sara Brown says
Ikea Me!
I’d spend the year working with orphans somewhere!
Christine says
IKEA Me! I would spend the year helping children in some way.
Megan B says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to volunteer, I would spend my time volunteering in a nursing home. When I visit my grandmother there, I realize how much our interaction lifts the spirits of her and the other residents.
MegRuth Photography says
IKEA Me!
I think I’d probably spend more time visiting the elderly. I know I wish I hadn’t lived so far from my grandmother when she was living in a home. Everyone needs someone to chat with!
Jessica says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year working with children in inner-city schools.
Vanessa says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at a literacy center.
Megan says
IKEA ME!
I spent three years working in mental health with clients who were steps away from living on their own…if I had the chance to take a year to work in/ found another similar facility I’d do it in a heartbeat!
Jessica says
IKEA ME! I would provide more arts opportunities for kids- Ours keep getting cut and I am the art teacher!
Christine says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to help others, I would definitely help the public schools nearby. I am a teacher and very passionate about giving back to our future!
Jenny says
IKEA Me
I would take by little sister from BBBS to Washington DC, her dream vacation and place to visit.
Stephanie S says
Ikea me :)
If I had a year to volunteer I would work with at-risk kids
kristina says
IKEA Me!
Love Ikea. I would do work similar to Habitat for Humanity working to create homes for those in need.
Heather S. says
Ikea Me!!
I’d love to spend a year off talking to people about planning and shopping for healthy meals for their families. Not too glamorous, but oh so important I think!
Alyssa DaCosta says
IKEA ME!
I would help people to learn about the Bible. It is the best ‘self-help’ book available! It has practical advice for all ages. And I believe that if we all took its advice the world would be a better place.
Heather E Transue says
Ikea me!
As a teacher, I would like to organize an after school tutoring center where students could get additional academic support!
Melinda says
IKEA ME……If I had a year to give I would work and support a program that I am already involved with. S.O.S. Backpacks. They provide one backpack full of meals for a child who otherwise wouldn’t have another meal from Friday at lunch until Monday. There are many children in this country that go hungry. Who save food from their lunches to have something to eat at night or ask their friends for food that they aren’t eating at lunch to take home to their siblings. So sad!
Meredith Matthews says
IKEA ME! As a school teacher I would create a program to help school with bullying. I have seen first hand the terrible affects of bullying and I would love to reach out to those who are targeted.
Jess says
ikea me!!!
i’d definitely work with animals or an environmental advocacy group…
Steffanie says
IKEA ME!
My heart just started racing in excitement, I would LOVE nothing more than to start up my own non-profit. I would love to donate cloth diapers to underdeveloped countries and help with providing clean water for them them wash them.
James says
IKEA ME!
I have been cooking for over 12 years now and have earned the title Certified Executive Chef. I already spend a great deal of my time off volunteering in food banks and community kitchens. I would spend a year teaching children and young adults how to purchase and cook food and how they can help out in their communities by cooking for those less fortunate and teaching others how to cook. Everyone needs food to survive and cooking is a skill that will always be needed.
Aimee B says
IKEA me! If I had a year, I would work with returning veterans to help them get adjusted back into life in the US.
Teresa says
IKEA ME!
This gift card would be perfect to help me buy their butcherblock countertops. I have been wanting these in my kitchen for a few years!
jeny tyler says
IKEA ME!!! WOOHOO!
I would like to help connect unemployed people with current job openings.
Jim says
Ikea ME!!!
I would volunteer with habitat for humanity to build houses for families in need.