*** 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.
Alanna says
IKEA Me!
I think some sort of tutoring session for struggling students would be a good start for me!
Caroline says
“IKEA Me!” I would be able to student teach for a semester and not worry about getting paid! I also would love to volunteer with the Special Olympics in the area.
Cassie says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year working with homeless animals. I adopted a shelter cat three years ago and he has been such a joy in my life!
Margaret says
IKEA ME!!! I think helping less fortunate people, disabled, elderly, etc., fix their homes so that they’re safer, more comfortable and give them a better quality of life.
Erin says
“IKEA Me!”
Sarah E. says
IKEA Me!!!
I’d love to help out with a school thing in any way!!
Andrea says
Ikea Me! :)
If I had a year to volunteer, I would spend the time working to help children reach their dreams, like the Make a Wish Foundation.
Laura Buss says
IKEA Me!
suzanne says
hmmmm… so many things that need doing… i think i’d spend the time and money right here in richmond, working to create some sort of urban farm for middle schoolers within city limits.
Katie says
IKEA me! I’d spend the year working with autistic children.
Dan says
IKEA ME
If I had a year I would travel around the country speaking to kids and parents about the importance of eating healthy, having a positive attitude and exercise.
Laura Potchen says
IKEA Me, please.
I’d use it for a reading program
Kris says
IKEA ME! I would have to think more about all the possibilities- but I think I would focus on stepping up recycling efforts in my area and schools.
Carly says
IKEA ME! I would need to think a bit more on what I would do. That’s a big commitment.
Britt says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give I would still do my same job (as a physician assistant) but instead of working in an office seeing patients with insurance I would work full time at free clinics and working with immigrants. I would hope to do some preventative care with a patient population that only gets “reactive” medical care.
Gretchen says
IKEA ME!
I am a school librarian — I absolutely love my job. I would love to be able support school library programs in underserved rural areas. Even though our funding is constantly being cut, I am constantly amazed at how much money my program gets each year. In other parts of the country, librarians are being completely cut from schools, existing libraries haven’t purchased new books or other resources in several years.
Britney says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to perform little random acts of kindness to strangers for a year (like giving away $100 here and there, or buying someone’s groceries at the store, etc).
Angela T. says
IKEA ME! I’m a huge animal lover and would do whatever I could to help animals who need to be rescued.
Kolby Gausman says
IKEA ME! If I had a year to give, I would volunteer at our small town school and our church. Both places struggle financially, what a better way to keep our town, that we love so much, alive and kickin’!
Laragh Dooley says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off I’d spend time researching type 1 diabetes as my brother was recently diagnised!
Haley says
IKEA me!
I would use the stats skills I’m refining in graduate school to work for a non-profit, specifically helping with program evaluation.
Kimberly says
IKEA Me! . . . (when you’re not strong . . . I’ll be your friend . . .)
I think I’d volunteer more with children’s education and arts programs. I’ve volunteered with animals and with various organizations, but I think it’s more challenging to work with people face-to-face.
susan c says
IKEA ME!
I would help grow food with local agriculture producers and set up a distribution network for those that truly need it.
Kelly says
IKEA ME!
not sure what I’d do…something with kids…
melissa says
IKEA ME!
If I had the opportunity I would spend a year developing an art program for children with autism. I’ve run a one-week program in the summer and wish I could do it all year long. The kids have a means of expression that builds their confidence, their families are touched, the kids get to be the stars for exactly who they are AND the world gets some beautiful art :)
julie b says
IKEA Me!!!
Victoria says
Ikea Me, please! One word…Hospice.
Alice says
IKEA ME!!
I would like to help teach autistic children, something I’ve enjoyed doing in the past.
chris says
IKEA ME!
I’d work with an animal shelter.
Rachel says
Ikea ME, baby!
I already know what I’d do…because its been a dream for awhile. I hope, one day, to be able to help teens who find themselves pregnant. I want to help them finish school and show them that they can enter college. I’d envision giving them mentors who have also been there to help them along the way. I’d also eventually like it to include older women/moms who are single/low income to help them get a leg up.
Traci Duncan says
I would take a year off to start a program showing pet owners cheap and easy ways to care for their pets, anything from where to get inexpensive (or sometimes free!) healthcare, shots, and medicines, to teaching them easy DIY projects like homemade toys, beds, and food on the cheap. My hope is to cut down on the number of families who are currently having to give up their pets in an attempt to save money in these tough times – I want to keep families from giving up a family member, keep shelters from filling up to the point of overcrowding, and keep pets in a loving and happy home.
Meagan says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year to give, I would volunteer to teach in an underserved school.
Becky says
Ikea Me! I would definitely love to go volunteer in an orphanage in Africa.
Katie says
IKEA Me!!!
I would volunteer helping foster children in my community
Lisa H says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year’s sabbatical, I would volunteer with my local bloodbank to help take in as many blood donations as possible.
kim m says
IKEA me! LOVE IKEA, we drive almost 3 hours each way from our Cleveland suburb to the closest one! A year to do good?? I’d start an afterschool art program for kids in our area with a focus on charitable giving – creating things to donate or sell for charitable fundraising. I’d also offer art activities and lessons for children (and parent & child activities, and parties…)with a percentage of the cost going to local organizations, and regular activities for local disadvantaged children and groups with special needs in the area. Many, many local families are having it rough in this economy, and any extras for their children are out of the question, so sad.
Mindy says
IKEA ME.
Please.
I would spend the year teaching children how to read.
Melissa Johnson says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to give, I would teach financial literacy classes to high school students.
Amber Artz says
IKEA ME! I would love to help provide medical care to the homeless/under-served in my community. As a nurse I see so many people come through the doors at the hospital that don’t have the resources needed to take care of themselves.
Emily says
Ikea me!
I would go back to China. I spent a summer there teaching English to students in a rural area and would love the opportunity to go back someday.
Michele says
IKEA me! I would do one of two things with a year sabbatical, I would… expand the volunteer work I already do for our local American Cancer Society into a full-time endeavor… or I would develop and execute a program to help Nicaraguan craftsmen market and sell their wares worldwide.
erin says
ikea me!
I’d teach therapeutic horseback riding.
AshleyM says
IKEA me, please!
If I had a year to give, I would work with orphaned children…do whatever I could to give them better lives and help get them paired up with families.
Morgan Owen says
Ikea ME!!!
I currently work full time for a non-profit, but I would love to go and volunteer my time at the different places we serve around the world and take the time here in the US to visit the poor communities we serve in as well.
Erika says
IKEA ME!! I would spend my year volunteering at an animal shelter, helping out my furry, four-legged friends.
Jessica C. says
IKEA ME!!!
If I had a year off I would definitely volunteer at the animal shelter where I live.
Audrey M. says
Ikea me!
I’d go clean teeth in a third world country. I think it’d be great!
Laura says
IKEA Me!! If I had a year to give, I’d like to work with children in foster care who don’t have parents of their own.
Melissa says
IKEA Me!
I would take time off to help Habitat for Humanity at locations across the country!
steph says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off, I would volunteer full time with one of my favorite foundations, the baby corner!