*** 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.
Aryn says
IKEA ME!
I’m afraid I can’t tell you the details ’cause I think I’m going to enter the contest…but it would be a project with involvement on a local level to give/aid a national/international level. I love all these big corporations jumping on the “do good” bandwagon. Hooray for the everyday!
amber says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would defiantely feed the hungry & homeless!
Chris says
IKEA Me!! I would love to volunteer at an animal shelter, but I know I would bring everything home!
Jenny says
IKEA ME!!!!
I’d rotate through every mom I know giving them a couple of days to do whatever they want – by themselves . . . loving their kids!
Katie L. says
IKEA ME! I’d teach critical thinking skills to kids. And neuroscience. Everyone needs to know a bit more about their own brains…
Katie C says
IKEA me!
I would love to spend a year building a math and science program for underserved kids… So much effort is put into getting girls interested in science, math, and engineering, which is important, but as the number of women has begun increasing, it becomes even more clear that children from lower-income families are mostly absent from these fields, and need the opportunities given to them to get excited about learning!
<3 a female physics grad student
amber says
A year off, I would go to Africa and help them get water!
aron says
IKEA me! I would help the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding waterways.
Amanda L says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to simply help people, I would with the local women’s shelter to improve and expand the services they can offer. They are the only one in the area, serving two counties and one small city, and they need all the help they can get.
Ashley says
IKEA me! I am currently working in both a public school and a private clinic that provide speech and occupational therapy to children with special needs. I particularly feel a call to reach out to families of children with Autism. I would spend my year providing therapy and support for those affected families pro bono.
Myca Frogley says
IKEA ME!!
I have three little children that I don’t get to spend nearly as much time with them as I would like since I work full time. I would love to volunteer more at their schools!Of course there are so many other things I would like to do too. :)
Cathy says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could take a year off to help others I’d start a group home for mentally disabled adults. Somewhere to help them have a more normal life, good caring people around them and a new start.
trey says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would do so many great things – I love charity work.
Rachel Collins says
IKEA Me!
I’d like to help people gain new skills to find jobs.
Katie G says
IKEA ME!
I would work in education of some sort…
leita says
IKEA ME!
I’d set up a student/peer mentoring program for underrepresented/minority students at my public university…. friendships and guidance can make a huge difference in getting kids who feel out of place to graduate and go on to make a huge difference in the world!
Amy B says
IKEA Me!!!
If I were to take a year off to help others I would probably invest my time helping disadvantaged local youth.
dana hoewt says
IKEA ME!
ChristineK says
“IKEA Me!”
Jessica Coates says
“IKEA Me!” PLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSEEEE!!!!!!!!!! I would start a pre-school for children of lower class working moms. Many daycares take ABC vouchers, but very few accredited pre-schools have programs for children of this socio-economic background. HOOK ME UP, YHL & IKEA! :)
Alisha says
Ikea me!
jennifer says
“IKEA Me!”
One year? I’d either go to an orphanage in Asia and just love little kids with the Missionaries of Charity, or I’d spend the year building safe water sources for small communities abroad.
dara says
“IKEA Me!”
I would love to teach music or theatre to underprivileged kids.
sri says
IKEAM me
I would volunteer at homeless shelters
KatieK says
IKEA Me!
Helping figure out where and why our public school system went so horribly wrong.
Dana hoewt says
IKEA ME! I would spend it in Haiti…
Christine Coates says
IKEA me!!
I am a nurse and I would love to spend a year doing medical work in Africa, teaching about preventing HIV, the importance of drinking clean water, and other teaching that could really improve their day to day life. Also as a Christian, I would most importantly seek to share the love of Jesus with them.
Crystal says
IKEA me!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME! I would spend time with people in assisted living homes. I would play cards with them, take them shopping, bake goodies for them, and just spend time with them!
OurLittleAshley says
IKEA ME!
I would spend time helping non-profits redo their websites – which would raise awareness about the non-profits. So many non-profits have TERRIBLE websites, and the more information donors can get from their website, the more likely they are to donate!
Chantel S says
Please, IKEA Me!
I would be involved in children’s lives, reading, loving hugging… whatever… but then again if I think about that I do that anyway, I have 3 kids! :)
Alisha says
IKEA MEEEEEE!!!!!
I would incorporate a few things into one… I would visit elderly people who may not have someone to just visit with. I’d also take along a shelter dog who needs some love and who would certainly lift some spirits! It’s a win-win! =)
Michelle says
IKEA Me!!
I would spend the year working with a mission organization like I did this summer doing building projects for those in need. We built a 62 foot wheelchair ramp this summer.
Dani S. says
Ikea me!
With a year off, I’d work to improve after-school programs in the United States and try to get foster kids placed in loving homes.
hannah says
IKEA ME!
it’d be something with children. . .for sure. and probably in some crazy location!
Erin O says
IKEA ME! With $100k, I’d spend a year working to erradicate violence against women.
Kristen says
IKEA ME!
What a great idea! I would do something for babies who don’t have access to the food, clothes, and diapers they need. It breaks my heart every time I hear one of those stories.
Steve says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year to help other people I’d like to get involved with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. I would also like to volunteer in some capacity to support foster children and families.
Anna B says
IKEA Me!
I’d go the after school program route, probably with a focus on the arts. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than helping kids discover their own talents and a love for that which is beautiful.
keeda says
Ikea Me!
I would go to Haiti for the year and do everything I can to help.
Audra says
Ikea Me!!
I would spend my year in a 3rd world country helping teach children who don’t have them resources to go to school.
Kate says
IKEA Me!! I would love to spend my time at a Maternity Home giving young mothers hope and courage to pursue their dreams and live a beautiful life with their children.
Loren Latourelle says
IKEA me: I would connect with a group in San Francisco fighting human trafficking.
Monica says
IKEA ME! And I would definitely take the money to build my retirement shelter for old and unwanted animals. So many of them are euthanized simply because they’re not cute kittens or puppies, but they have plenty of life and tons of love to give.
Amber McMullin says
ikea me! if I could spend one year helping others I would spend it working with my towns local charity organization Bambinos which helps needy women and their children find clothes, diapers, toys, shelter, food, and coming to know Christ. Which is the ultimate gift!
Christine says
IKEA ME! PLEASE!
A year off…I would love to create a program where children who have faced unfair hardships in life could work with animals who have been rescued from abusive/neglectful homes, and they could then begin the healing process together. What a fabulous year that would be!
Lillian says
“IKEA Me!” and… I’d love to do something either with little ones or with teenagers – especially teaching them life skills like professional behavior and interviewing skills and personal money management.
Hayley says
IKEA ME!!
I would join my friends overseas and help support their cause by engaging with Dalit families who are living in pipe villages throughout India. I would love to partner with them to better their lives!
Brent says
IKEA ME!!
Cheryl Joy says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would help mommies who had recently given birth and needed help keeping up with life and their mental/physical health. Sometimes people just need a break and a little peace. :)