*** 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.
Jen says
IKEA me!
I would spend a year working as a fundraiser for the cancer society.
Analise E. says
IKEA me!
Were I a year to give… I would devote myself to working with junior high age kids coming from instability at home – aiming to help them grow a firmer sense of self… And a means to make good decisions.
Thank you :)
Tam says
IKEA ME! I’d work with children.
Krista says
IKEA Me!
I would help bring back and increase enrollment in programs that positively rewards youth in programs such as 4-H.
Wendy G says
IKEA Me!
I would love to help illiterate adults learn to read. Or work as a baby rocker at a hospital :)
Ricki de Love says
Ikea me!!
I would do something in Brazil…
Brooke says
Ikea Me! If I had a year to volunteer I’d volunteer at a children’s hospital.
Kate says
Ikea me!! If I could spend a year helping others I would spend more time doing what I do now which is helping parents with the skills and resources to be great parents, as every parent has the potential to be. If I had all four of my own children grown I would want to spend a year or more in the Peace Corp…always wanted to do it but I have been a parent since I was 20…Senior Peace Corp in my future!!!
JT Boobyer says
IKEA ME!
Before I became a (stay-at-home) mommy to “the duo” (2 1/2 year old twins), I was a preschool teacher. While I wouldn’t trade being home with my kids for the world, I miss my students. I’d love to be able to spend a year volunteering at a local inner-city after-school program.
Leslie J says
IKEA Me!
As a teacher and writer, I would LOVE a year off to do special writers workshops with students all over the country. We’d have tons of topics and bring the community’s writers and readers together for sessions with all ages sharing the joy of literacy! :)
Laura says
IKEA ME PLEASE!!!!
I would definitely spend the year helping animals, they are so sweet and need a voice to stand up for them!
Sandra Ann says
IKEA ME!! If I had a year to give, I would work with battered women and children (as I volunteered with during college), helping them leave their abusive situations, set them up in apartments/homes, find them jobs, counseling, etc. and counsel the children. The best part was playing with and talking to the kids, getting them away from their problems and showing them how to just be little kids again :) Nothing like it!
MichelleG says
IKEA Me! i love the idea shared by Merdith H about the Baraka School- i would love def love to work there (Kenya is an amazing country with wonderful people- what a great environment for at-risk american kids!), or deliver animals to families in underdeveloped countries though Heifer International. locally, i would revive some of the meal ministries (ie: soup kitchens) in our area or volunteer my time developing science research programs for elementary, middle school, and highschool students (I teach college biology):o)
Erin says
IKEA Me!
I would work to expand the fitness and nutrition program I run in our city schools!
shannon says
IKEA ME!!! please…
If I had a year to give, I’d spend the time building houses with Habitat for Humanity. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
Loren says
IKEA ME! we need to trash the futon in our guest bedroom!
If I had a year to give, I’d volunteer at a legal services clinic. I figure, hey, no reason to let that overpriced education of mine go to waste when I actually have something to offer people
SarahJ says
IKEA ME!
Juliana says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer in a children’s hospital.
TessaAnne says
-IKEA Me!
-I’d love to spend some of the time on the Mercy Ship in Africa, and the other part of the time at some sort of Crisis Pregnancy Center
Krista says
IKEA Me! I’d do a lot of volunteering for local adult and child literacy programs.
Joy says
IKEA Me! If I had a year to give, I would want to develop a class for middle schoolers and high schoolers on how to budget money wisely. Why isn’t this already a requirement to graduate from H.S.?
SarahJ says
I’d love to spend a year helping orphans… overseas or domestically.
Nina says
IKEA Me! I’m lusting after a besta combination…
I would probably work for Habitat for Humanity, something I always wanted or work at a women’s shelter.
Kimberly L. says
IKEA ME!
I would take year and volunteer at a children’s hospital. We are so lucky to have a healthy little girl and others aren’t unfortunately.
Lindsey R says
Ikea Me!
I would spend all my time working with animal rescue groups! Especially boxer rescues!
Rachael Mineart says
Ikea me!! If I had a year I would go back to Africa and provide nursing/medical care to those who are less fortunate that we are.
Anna ReSue says
IKEA Me!
I would start a dance school or arts school for under privileged children, so I could teach them how important and wondeful art can be.
Lisa M says
IKEA ME!!! I would work to help raise money for women in the Congo, so they could take care of their families and get the medical care they need. I would also donate money and work with Invisible Children, an organization that’s developing a radio warning device that will help warn villagers living in rural and cut-off areas about an oncoming attack by the rebel Joseph Kony and his LRA. The radio will give villagers time to prepare and flee before the attacks take place.
Brie says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would volunteer in classrooms with students who are mentally and physically impaired. They could always use more people to help an dI would love to spend my time just improving the life of someone else.
Courtney G says
Ikea Me! If I had a year to give, I’d start a literacy program for kids.
Beth Crouser says
IKEA me! Wow! I’d love to spend time overseas teaching English — or volunteer right here at home with elderly people. {But I have a feeling I should go ahead and start on the latter one in my spare time! There’s no time like the present, right?} Thanks for the giveaway! :)
Alexa says
IKEA ME!! I would love to volunteer at children hospitals!
Miriam says
IKEA Me with this giveaway and I would spend a year working in a free clinic provide medical care
Jeannette says
IKEA Me!
I would spend time working with kids and giving them a positive role model.
Crystal Verbeke says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to volunteer in a women’s shelter. It would be rewarding to walk into a place like that and help turn things around.
May says
Ikea me!
Holly says
IKEA me!
I would spend the time working with the families of Marines who have been KIA, and also working with wounded members of the military.
Dan says
IKEA ME!
I want to build homes for those less fortunate. I don’t discriminate I would help all those in need of a home.
Tricia says
IKEA ME PLEASE! If I could volunteer for a year, I would volunteer w a children’s outdoors education program – specifically one that exposes urban children to the outdoors through weekend adventures and nature programs.
Rebecca says
Ikea me!
I would help to spay/neuter local animals. I love my dogs oh so much but I know there aren’t enough homes for all of the sweethearts already out there.
Rachel says
Ikea me!
I’d spend a year helping ease the lives of families with pediatric cancer patients. The entire family life is turned upside down when a child has cancer, and not everybody is lucky enough to have a support system to help with it all.
Jen says
Ikea Me! If I could take a year off work, I’d spend it helping underprivileged youth get into college and learn how to pay for college :-)
Birgit K. says
IKEA ME!
I think volunteering for a year for me would be where the most need is in the community. It could be a free clinic, maybe work with underprivileged children, and/or with some mentally and physically handicapped children or adults. Since I have a fairly extensive background in all these areas I feel I could really make a difference – even if it was just in a small way!
Kristin says
Ikea Me!
I’d love to work with rescuing animals from hoarding situations since Animal Sciences was my major in college.
Kelsey says
IKEA ME!!!!!
Valerie J. says
“IKEA me!”
I’d volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center to raise awareness of the horror of abortions. Saving babies…there isn’t anything more important than that.
Erin C says
IKEA ME! If I had a year to give I would go to Africa with my family in tow and help Compassion or World Vision with the poor there; especially the children. It’s my dream to go there on a mission trip one day!
erin says
Ikea Me!
I would love to help turn run down areas into great parks for new use.
Kris says
Ikea ME!!!
I’d love to go work in another country helping children in impoverished areas.
Meagan says
IKEA Me! I would start a nonprofit arts center in the abandoned opera house in our town. I have the plan, but don’t have the start-up funding yet. We would offer art therapy classes, after-school programs, a gallery, performance space, and studios for artists.
P.S. Thanks for all the inspiration!