*** 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.
Kelly says
Ikea me! I have a new room to decorate. With 100K, I would set up after school literacy groups for middle schoolers.
Roxanne says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others I would probably use the money to anonymously pay people’s electric bills, house notes, debt, etc. I think its the little things like these that could make a HUGE difference in individual’s lives, and hopefully, spur them on to pay it forward.
Ellie says
IKEA ME ~ I would spend my year at Brent’s Place – a home for families to stay while their children are undergoing cancer treatment at the Children’s Hospital.
Abby Medford says
“IKEA Me!”
The money would be used to pay off our mortgage and my remaining medical bills (6-years cancer free wooohooo!!!!). With that debt fulfilled, I would be able to go “pay-check-less” and it not create additional stress for my husband. Then I would be free to work with and advocate for foster children on a full-time basis. What a blessing!
Ruth says
IKEA ME!
It would be great to somehow get low income families on the road to financial freedom. Maybe help start a program offering free personal finance classes teaching back-to-basics money and budgeting.
laura says
IKEA ME!!!
If I had one year to help people…. where to start?! I am a nurse. I would love to do follow up with our families once they are discharged and make sure they understand all the information they are given when leaving the hospital. Follow up again and make sure they are coping okay.
Robyn says
Ikea Me please! :)
Amy Elizabeth says
Ikea me please!
Jennifer Gessner says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year (or more) working with children that are sick and with animals in a shelter.
Alissa says
IKEA ME! Use it towards kitchen remodel.
I would spend a year with teen mothers to help them understand the importance of education and proper nutrition!
Maria Beaver says
IKEA ME!
What an amazing, wonderful store and what a great contest!
I think I’d start a Pit Bull/Cockfighting recovery and rehab center. I’d call it the CockPit.
Jamie says
IKEA Me! I’ve been looking at a Hemnes dresser for MONTHS!!
If I could take a year off to help other people, I would work for a year at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. It seems like most people just don’t believe that a lack of food is a problem for many families in the U.S. I would create programs to raise awareness about hunger in Central Ohio and the Food Bank’s mission to feed those in need. I would also work to bring in high profile donors to not only contribute funds, but who could inspire action in others.
Caitlin says
IKEA ME!!
PLEASE!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!! I’m a Kindergarten teacher and not only would this be an awesome 1 year home owner anniversery present but my classroom and students could use some help!
April says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d spend a year trying to bring in more funds for out Animal Protective League :)
Leah says
Ikea me…I would start a program that housed a group of homeless people and would help them get a second chance at life. provide food, transportation, clothing, employment, etc.
Kristen Fet says
IKEA ME! rescuing dogs!!!
Kristie says
IKEA Me! I would love to build houses for Habitat for Humanity.
Christine Panopio says
IKEA ME!!!
Emily says
Ikea Me!
I would love to work with smile train helping fix cleft lips and palates.
Emily says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year volunteering for the Make a Wish Foundation
Emmanuel Osornio says
IKEA ME!!
Krystal says
IKEA ME!
I would take a year and clean up the trash that is neverending in and around my city.
Kate says
IKEA ME!
With a year and some funding, I would spend the time connecting American women with mothers in Africa, to help African mothers build their economic and social power, to help them support their families. I adopted my son from Ethiopia in 2008 and have seen first-hand what overwhelming challenges women face there.
Erin says
IKEA ME!
If I was able to volunteer, I would fill my time with helping children. I am a teacher, so obviously this would be my first choice. I would love to go to another country (or even stay here in the US) and teach children who are less fortunate than us. I would love to volunteer in orphanages….there are so many things I would love to do!
Kate says
Ikea me!!!!
i would most definatly start a rescue organization for dogs. We just rescued our first dog a few weeks ago, and there will be many many more in our future!
Elsie says
IKEA ME!!!!!
I would love to volunteer at an animal shelter and help abused animals find loving homes. I would also I love to help less fortunate children give light to their dreams.
Marissa says
IKEA Me! If I were to spend the year, I would expand the arts-based non-profit outreach program I direct to include children in Mexico (I live on the US/Mexico border) and facilitate cross-cultural understanding :)
Katie G. says
Ikea Me!
With a year off, I would work with at risk kids in the inner city. Hopefully teaching needed reading and mathmatical skills.
Melanie says
IKEA ME!
Something for mothers who need help.
David says
Ikea Me!!!
I would spend the year volunteering at the local soup kitchens and helping those who need help to get back on their feet.
Jackie says
IKEA me!
If I could take a year off, I would volunteer with both a local non-profit, preferably one working with animals, and a national non-profit like Feeding America.
Tessah says
Ikea me! And I second Jenn and Lorie! Ending animal suffering is a huge passion of mine that guides much of my life. But a year to work just on that – amazing!
Mary Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I would “start an NGO in my basement” and follow the example of the amazing women who were featured in last weekend’s NYT article
DIY Foreign-Aid Revolution http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html
Bobbi Jo says
IKEA ME!….I would take the year to work in China helping coordinate foster homes for children who live in orphanages. I would take my husband and two kids…who both benefited so much from living in foster homes until we were able to adopt them!
Andrew S. says
IKEA Me!
I would spend time working with a Habitat for Humanity, helping people build homes that they will one day live in, DIY that gives back!
Cheryl says
IKEA ME! I would assume that charities out there already know how to more efficiently do things than I do, so I would work with Teach for America to do what I could to help out with improving their ability to serve lower class children needing an education.
Jessi says
Almost 7000 comments. Wow. Despite the odds, I’ll still give it a shot – Ikea Me!
And if I could spend a year volunteering, I would do this without a doubt: http://www.backonmyfeet.org/
Rachel says
IKEA me!
As an artist, I would LOVE to teach free art classes to under-privileged and handicapped children!
ElaineMicheline says
“IKEA ME”
If I were to win the money, I’d volunteer in the Dominican Republic and work with disadvantaged children, and with Accion Callejera (the non-profit that works with shoe shine boys)…can’t wait to see the kids this spring break :-)
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would teach people had to budget within their means and save and grow nest eggs for the future.
Katharine says
IKEA me!
I would spend love to open a shelter for homeless women and children.
Laurel says
Ikea me! I’d like to beautify cities by adding parks in areas where buildings were torn down and left in disrepair in a local city.
Liza Sharp says
Ikea Me please!
We got a house and a baby at the same time and are slowly putting it together.
If I could spend a year volunteering I would work with the Department of Children and Families. We are emergency Foster Parents and would love to do more for children and families in our community.
Megan says
IKEA Me!
Without a doubt, I’d spend my time split between working at local soup kitchens and working at local animal shelters! Everyone needs a hand sometimes – furry friends AND bipedal ones!
Lindsay Ewing says
Ikea Me!! I adopted my dog from a shelter on st croix usvi. If I could have a year volunteering I would work for the cause and help abandoned island animals.
Erin says
IKEA me!
My son, who is 16 months old, is obsessed with books and now will hand me one and say “read.” (Sounds like “weed.”) I can’t imagine kiddos that don’t have a loved one or older person reading to them. Spending time with kids that don’t have a book-loving home and helping them fall in love with reading sounds like a pretty awesome way to volunteer some time.
Tiffanie says
IKEA ME… please!
I would love to help children in need… no matter the need.
Jaysa says
IKEA me!
I’d definitely volunteer at an animal shelter.
Nicole says
IKEA Me! I would love to start a program to assist the elderly in the community with running simple errands that they are no longer able to do. People take for granted being able to run to the grocery store, some elderly are not able to do this for themselves.
Meg says
Ikea me!
I would use $100,000 to help Partners in Health continue to develop clinics in communities affected by HIV and TB.