*** 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.
Sarah says
IKEA Me! I would go abroad and do some good :)
Jessi says
IKEA Me!!!
If I could take a year to help people, I would spend time with kids teaching them about the environment, getting them outside as much as possible to actually see places and ideas that they’ve learning about.
Ann says
IKEA Me!
I’m a librarian and love what I do…so perhaps I’d do something like start up a reading/literature program for young kids?
Jen says
Ikea me!
I would love to go back to a small village in the Dominican Republic where I volunteered with Chiromission in 2008. It was a wonderful experience, and although the people there hardly had any material possesions or food, they were the most generous and grateful people I’ve ever met.
Ginger says
IKEA ME!!! If I had a year off I would invest time with a local non-profit, Freedom Fire Urban Ministries (www.freedomefire.org).
Holly says
IKEA ME!
I would start a camp for under-privileged kids who don’t get the chance to get out of the city!
Jasmine Barclift says
IKEA ME!
Since I am a school teacher, I would definitely volunteer in poverty stricken schools!
Lauren G says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year volunteering at a children’s hospital rocking babies that don’t have parents. I currently work at a children’s hospital as a nurse and feel like with all of my other duties I don’t have enought time to do things like rock and cuddle with the babies.
Lacy F says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year at Pets and People Animal Rescue in Yukon, OK. They always need volunteers to walk, feed, and train dogs.
Cindy Reynolds says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend the year working with charity:water to build clean water wells in undeveloped nations. $20 gives 1 person clean water for 20 years!
Nikki G says
IKEA ME! I would spend most of the year helping animals, working with the humane society.
Nedra Davis says
IKEA ME!!!!! If I could do anything I would start a giving circle consisting of African-American women and children that would give back to the community in the area of arts and sports programs through a series of fundraising events.
Alison says
IKEA Me!!!
I would definitely do something with babies and children. Something with orphanages or adoption. I feel like there are soooo many children who need help here in this country and a lot of people forget about that and think about all the children overseas that need help. We need to help our own country before we help others!
Amanda says
Ikea Me! If I had a year to give, I’d work with domestic violence victims rebuilding their lives after leaving their aggressors.
Sara Smith says
IKEA Me!!! Hmm….since I’m a teacher I’d probably do something kid related. Perhaps volunteer at a local children’s house (St. Mary’s) or volunteer in a city school!
Mike says
“IKEA ME!”
I would like to create a learning center to teach art to kids in schools who don’t have a good art program.
Beth says
IKEA ME!
A year off? I’d rejoin a Haiti missionary group that I recently had to give up because of time commitments.
Stephanie M says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give I’d spend it at Talitha Koum a nonprofit org in Waco, TX. It’s an amazing place with a great passion for at-risk kids.
Natalie M. says
IKEA me!
Jael says
Ikea Me!
I’d work with middle-school aged children struggling with literacy.
Emma says
IKEA Me! I would take a year off and volunteer my nursing skills around the country.
Daniel P says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at King’s Klinic, a free clinic in Oklahoma City.
melissa says
Ikea Me!!! I don’t live in a city with an IKEA so I would go crazy online shopping!
If I had a year to help others I would volunteer with HH, Building houses! Great cause and what fun!
Julie says
Ikea me!
If I had a year to give, I’d continue my work with Richmond’s free health clinic network and work to develop safety net programs for people without health insurance.
Megan Sullivan says
IKEA ME!!!!
If I was given the chance to take a year off and volunteer any where in the world. I would head to Costa Rica and help making coffee plantations more environmentally friendly. Little do people know how much time and effort goes into the creation of your daily brew but that background is what I am most interested in. Organizations like Rain forest alliance and Coffee for kids are making huge strides to make coffee more environmentally safe and provide a better life for the workers. A girl can dream right.
Beth says
IKEA Me!!!
I would volunteer at different SPCAs and Humane Societies.
Emma says
IKEA ME!
Erica says
IKEA ME! Since I’m a graphic & web designer, I’d love to help non-profits fix their ailing and/or broken websites. Even a little reorganization and sprucing up can make a big difference in helping users find information!
eileen marie says
OMG-IKEA ME!! I would do all of the above if I had a 1-year sabbatical! I could volunteer at an animal shelter AND work with kids in an after school program for disadvantaged youths.
Cassie Kimler says
IKEA ME
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IKEA!!! First off, I LOVE volunteering and feel that it is super important for everyone in their life. I volunteered most of my growing up years and would do it in a heart beat. I already work for a non for profit so i would definitely open a clean, safe place for adults with mental illness to receive help and free meals that utilize farmers in our areas. This is a need in our community and for the clients i currently serve!!!!
did i mention i HEART IKEA!!!!!
Cassiekimler(at) gmail (dot) com
Daniel P says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year to give, I’d spend it volunteering at King’s Klinic. It’s a clinic that provides free health care to citizens of Oklahoma City.
Alicia says
IKEA ME!
I live in Metro Detroit and I have always dreamed about opening up a center in the city for children to have a safe place after school. Detroit is a rough city for children, I would hope to bring a little brightness to their lives. :)
Rachel B. says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend a year doing some sort of volunteer work, I’d definitely do something with animals. They can’t speak for themselves, so someone has to!
Esther says
IKEA ME!
Amy J says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to be involved in art programs for lower income families and school programs that lack funding for the arts. I think the arts are so important for everyone.
Alison says
IKEA me! I would spend the year counseling people (since this is my job already) and provide services for people that can’t afford it.
Bethany says
IKEA me!!! I would love to fulfill my dream of opening a doggie daycare/foster home for dogs. I already foster dogs now, so it’d be amazing to have a little cottage in the woods just for my furkids!
Mariel says
IKEA me!
I work intensely helping kids everyday, so I already feel fulfilled….but I think I’d like to do something international…helping refugees.
Kayla says
IKEA ME! If I had a year and $100,000 I would definitely open some sort of animal shelter/rescue house!
Tiffany says
IKEA ME! I would work with people with disabilities who are living in countries that view them as outcasts in society. I would do whatever I can to help them to be integrated into society, whether it is through fulfilling their needs for medical attention, encouraging them to keep moving forward, or educating them and their family/friends about their disabilities.
Josh says
IKEA me!
With a year off, I would build houses in a rural area with Habitat for Humanity.
Anne says
ikea me! I would volunteer at our local chilrens hospital
Stacy S. says
Ikea Me!
I’d help rescue dogs.
Hannah Richman says
IKEA ME!!!!! Please!!
I would develop an art program for underprivileged teens.
Andrea says
IKEA MEEEE! I would love to have a year to devote to our local food bank. They provide an awesome ministry of full bellies and happy hearts to our community!
SaraShea says
IKEA Me! If I had the opportunity to give of myself for one year, I would do the same thing I do every day…teach at Riverside School. Riverside is a school in Richmond for dyslexic students. In nearly 15 years of teaching, I have never been more fulfilled or learned more from my students than I have in my five years at Riverside. These students are the brightest, funniest, most creative kids I have ever met and I thank my lucky stars everyday that I get to spend time with them.
Michelle says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year supporting my local dog rescue group! We have our first foster dog and I want to help many more!!!
Jessica says
IKEA Me! I spent two years volunteering as an inner-city middle school teacher after college and have worked in urban schools since, so if I’d keep right on doing what I’m doing now!
Suzanne T says
IKEA ME!
I’d pour my time and money into my children’s school, volunteering and providing much needed materials.
Kathleen says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend the year working with underprivileged teens in some way, maybe helping to prepare them for college.