*** 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.
Rachel W says
Ikea Me!! I’d spend the year serving kids in low income areas. Maybe tutoring, maybe mentoring…not sure quite sure but it would be with kids. I saw Waiting for Superman this weekend and the need children have in this country is so great.
Dayna P. says
IKEA ME! I would like to help those affected by alzheimer’s, providing support and creating support groups for caregivers, family, and friends dealing with a loved one who has this disease.
Brooke Brockman says
IKEA ME!
I’d probably spend my year helping women out of bad situations. From teenage mothers to abused women to unemployed ladies – there’s a lot we could be doing to help each other.
OMG-YHL says
IKEA Me!
I’d probably volunteer at a no-kill cat shelter. I do that now, but I’d do it full time!
Jeannette says
“IKEA Me!” I would love to work with animals.
Brittany says
Ikea me! There is a non profit animal shelter I have been volunteering at in my area that rescues animals from the pound, fixes them and takes care of them until they can find a home for the animals. It has sparked a passion and I would love to become more involved.
Melanie says
IKEA me! I would volunteer in Haiti for a year.
Emily E. says
Ikea me! I would volunteer with Doctors without Borders!
Phoebe says
“IKEA Me!” I would return to the public hospital I interned at in Ecuador.
astrid says
IKEA ME!!! i would start an organization for young girls to start building confidence and self esteem at an early age!
Heather says
IKEA ME! I would totally spend my year working with a pre-k program in an underserved area. Education is so crucial for kids at that age. Head start can make all the difference about how a kid feels about education.
reva says
IKEA me! something to help break the cycle of poverty abroad, by giving poor girls a chance for education. or just improving education here in oakland.
Sarah Johnson says
IKEA ME! PRETTY PLEASE!
I love organizing, de-cluttering, and simplifying and I think I could help Mom’s across the country do that, starting with my own! She is raising 8 kids (9 if you count my husband) 5 of which are adopted with special needs WHILE working full time, and going to school!
Diane D. says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer with the organizations that form the food safety net in my community. Everything from sorting donations at the food distribution center to picking the leftover apples and corn that the local farmers leave in the field to be donated to the poor. I would love to have the time to contribute to my community in those ways.
Vanessa says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year to give, I would definitely want to work with FINCA in helping women all over world who are struggling to survive and provide for their children. This organization has been around for some time and I have donated in the past to their cause. I actually tried applying years back but couldn’t find any way to contribute locally, only via the internet. It would be cool to be able to visit the areas where this organization has truly made a difference.
John says
IKEA Me!
I’d recycle computers and teach the elderly how to use them to communicate with family members.
Katie B. says
IKEA MA! I think about that sometimes, what would I do if I could go help out anywhere..sometimes I think Haiti would be a good place to go, I could use my occupational therapy skills to help injured and disabled individuals but I also think someplace like New Orleans could still use a lot of help with rebuilding.
Tracy says
IKEA me! What a great giveaway! I’m not really sure what I would do, I’ve always enjoyed doing mission work with my church. It so satisfying to build something that improves a community while sharing my faith at the same time.
Megan says
IKEA ME!
If I were to take a year off just to do service, I would go to Uganda and help build schools and wells.
Katie S. says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to spend a year helping soldiers who are serving overseas and/or their families back home. They take care of us, so I think they and their families deserve some support too!
Julie W says
IKEA ME!
If I could take one year off I would volunteer full time. I would make it a goal to fill up 40 hrs. a week with volunteering with all different things like the library, animal shelter, teen pregnancy center, habitat for humanity, food bank, homeless shelter, hospital, nursing homes, schools, everything! It would be an amazing experience and really broaden my views and outlook of life I think. And it would awesome to help others so much!!
Rachel says
IKEA ME!!! The blank nursery for our sweet growing one inside me would love LOVE $350 dollars to Ikea!
I would serve at Your Community Connection in Ogden, UT!
Lisa says
IKEA Me! I would love to devote a year to helping the endangered whooping cranes and Operation Migration. Check out this amazing conservation effort: operationmigration.org
Ashlyn says
IKEA ME!
I would take the year to work in women’s shelters and rape crisis centers. I’ve been studying interpersonal violence and sexual assault in my graduate program for 6 years now, so actually feeling like I was giving back in a tangible way would be awesome!
Lori says
IKEA me!
I’d take a year off from work to commit full-time to the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services. I’ve always wanted to volunteer, but I couldn’t commit for a long enough time. Having a year to help out in the office, with crisis calls and any long-term planning would be amazing.
Dawn says
Ikea me! As a teacher, I would definitely do something involved in the schools!
Katie says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to help parents of autistic children and the children themselves to have better relationships with each other and their families.
Erin says
IKEA ME!!
I would spend the year doing HIV related medical aid in S.E. Asia.
Rachael R says
Ikea Me!
I would volunteer to spend time with the elderly, either homebound or in a nursing facility. So many are truly forgotten.
Tiff says
IKEA ME!
I would go back to Africa and spend a year at an orphanage over there.
Laura says
IKEA ME! Kulla lamp(s) and mattresses for my guest room trundle bed…. and a fun room accessory or two!
Jen says
Ikea me!
I would use my teaching experience to work with children in underprivileged neighborhoods. Possibly by working with the families to share and develop the best techniques for helping their children to succeed.
Jen says
**IKEA {pick} ME !! **
One whole year? I’d stick close to home and volunteer for a couple of local organizations.
Chantalle says
IKEA ME!
There are a few organizations I would love to get involved in, but especially helping young women and young men recognize their potential and find value in themselves and in getting an education.
Chris says
IKEA Me!
I’d work with one of the various women’s empowerment organizations in Africa.
Jen says
IKEA Me! I would love to have a public school based program for teenage boys. I am a former school teacher and I see a need for more help/attention/expectation to be given to young men. They rise to it well when given. That is what I would do.
Sarah S. says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to help out our church. We’re struggling and I’d love to be able to help bring some financial comfort to our pastor and staff.
Stephanie M says
IKEA ME!!
If I were to take a year sabbatical I would work with schools starting new ecological projects, like a biofuel center or recycling center.
Kathryn says
Ikea Me!
I want to help animals in some way. If only I could rescue everyone that has been abused or neglected.
Travis says
IKEA ME!!
I’d spend a year at LDS services, helping out where ever I could!
Rebecca Lyn says
IKEA ME!
I would start a farm school alternative to conventional education with a focus on community!
Kelli Yocum says
IKEA Me! If I were to take a year and donate my time, I would work across the country with the SPCA. I plan on becoming a foster home for abandoned animals through them when I buy my own fixer upper down the road a little bit. :]
Melissa York says
IKEA Me! If I had one year to spend volunteering I would help little kids who struggle in school especially learning how to read.
Jenski says
IKEA ME!!
Jenna w. says
Ike me…. I would provide free therapeutic child care for foster families once a week.
Joy says
IKEA Me!
I wish I could devote my entire life to solving poverty and illiteracy–yes, that is a very general answer, but it’s true.
Heather Shorr says
IKEA MEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I’m already devoting my life to human trafficking advocacy and victim relief.
Lori says
Ikea me!
I would definitly find a way to help animals, inspired by the sweet rescue dog I adopted this summer :)
Kim says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer in my church more and with the National Right to Life organization.
Kevin C says
IKEA Me!
Local business development and microfinancing in North Africa.