*** 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.
Meagan says
IKEA ME!!
If I had a year off I would want to be involved in a micro loan process. I would really enjoy being able to watch as people were given opportunities to run their own business and see how they used their loans to make a better life for themselves.
Adriane says
IKEA Me!
I’d love to take a year off (or more! lol) and do something different every few months. Travel the world assisting different people and learning different cultures and culminating to help so many great but underfunded and less well-known American grassroots campaigns. There’s a few websites that enable “voluntourism,” which has to be as win-win as it gets.
Danielle says
IKEA me! I’d spend a year in Haiti, helping rebuild schools.
Kevin says
IKEA ME!!
I would volunteer for Habitat for Humanity!
Raychel says
IKEA Me!
I would spend my time volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, everyone deserves a place to live.
Gillian says
IKEA ME!
Nancy says
IKEA me!
I would help out nationwide literacy programs for adults, children, low-income, etc. EVERYONE deservs a chance to understand the world around them!
Kelley says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year working in partnership with local farmers and local schools educating children on the importance of local, whole, sustainable foods!
Nicole says
IKEA ME!
I would love to have more time to volunteer to teach and/or volunteer in a needy community!
Ruth Pera says
IKEA ME!
I was blessed enough to be able to spend TWO years as a full-time volunteer at an under-resourced Catholic gradeschool, and they were two of the best (and hardest) years of my life. THEN I was able to spend two years working as a volunteer program coordinator so that other young adults could have the same experience. If I could do it again, I would. I loved being in my school and miss my kiddos every day!
Amanda says
IKEA Me!
I would love to do Habitat for Humanity. Bring on the sawdust and tools!
Jen says
IKEA me!!! My son was born with a severe heart defect and we spent a considerable amount of time in the Ronald McDonald house during his surgeries. So I would spend time volunteering in the RM houses and helping those whose family members are in hospitals.
Kaitlyn says
IKEA me! I would spend a year working to develop more support groups and long-term services for victims of sexual assault in my area. We have great crisis intervention services, but not a lot of prevalent long-term support!
Sarah says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!! I would help children with Autism by running a social skills group after school if I had a year off.
Leah G says
IKEA ME, please!
If i could spend one year freely it would definitely be helping women in crisis situations or circumstances! That would be amazing!
katie says
Ikea me! I would love to grant kids college scholarships!
christie dehoff says
IKEA ME!!
Cheryl says
IKEA Me!
Pretty pretty please
Tell us what you’d do if you could spend one year helping others :: I am pretty positive if I had a year and could do anything I wanted, I would be apt to start a local center for LGBT teens and friends and start several outreach programs at local middle and high schools. Yeah, that is definitely what I’d like to do.
dannielle J. says
IKEA me!
I would offer post partum doula services to mommies and daddies – if you have healthy (physically and mentally) parents they can raise healthy and happy children….and if I couldn’t do that I would build homes for people who really need it…
Charlotte says
IKEA me!
I would help out all the animal shelters in my area by giving them all a share of the prize.
Sandra S says
IKEA Me! I would organize a consignment like shop that gives clothes away to people in need.
amanda says
ikea me!!
i would work at an animal shelter!
Jessica E says
IKEA ME!
A year off… I’d work with the local pregnancy center to help save babies.
Kristin says
“IKEA Me!” I am an Early Intervention Physical Therapist in Illinois and the funding is terrbile…kids are on waiting lists to get services but therapists are not available due to shortage of funds. So I would try to help the kids and their families get the services they need when they need it.
Julie says
Ikea Me please…our second baby is on the way and I need a small crib to fit in my small should-be-a-closet-but-will-be-a-babies-room room!
If I could help others for a year I would spread the word of the March of Dimes day in an day out…my child was born beautiful and healthy, unlike so many babies born in the world each day. They need more volunteers!
Dani says
IKEA ME!
I’d help out with arts programs. Or foster dogs so they wouldn’t get put down in over run shelters
Brianne says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year helping homeless children get off the streets.
natascha says
IKEA me! I would spend the time working with teen after school programs.
andifoo says
IKEA me, please!
I would give to my hometown. Our small community is in dire straits these days and continuing to go downhill (in every aspect) despite the efforts of those who care.
Also, being involved in the animal community I see daily the great need there is in our region for support of rescue groups and would give more in this regard.
Lauren F. says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know what I would do with a year off, but it could be fun to find different things to do.
Chris says
IKEA ME!!
Crissy says
IKEA ME!
I would like to spend the year volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Bethany says
IKEA ME!!
I would spend my time visiting sick children in the hospital.
Rachel says
IKEA me!!!
A year off- I would spend it traveling around the states, giving programs to elementary school kids on the care of their teeth and mouth!
Amy Jo says
IKEA ME! I’d love to spend time in Rwanda helping in orphanages.
Carolyn says
IKEA ME, PLEASE!!
If I could spend a hear helping others, I’d like to work with habitat for humanity or some other home building group, building houses for people who need a solid roof over their heads.
jennifer says
IKEA ME!
I would welcome the opportunity to work with children in some capacity. I weep when I hear about abuse cases. And my heart hurts for the foster children that are never placed in a permanent home. I want to hold them tight and let them know that someone loves them.
Chelsy M says
IKEA Me!
I think I would rescue dogs that have been abused, My Dog Jack was abused and we are on year three and he is still skittish at times. It takes alot of time, and love and treats!!
Tricia says
IKEA me!
I’d start a foundation to support families with a parent who is undergoing cancer treatment.
Lynnita says
IKEA ME…I would work to help improve the public health disparities around the world.
Katie says
IKEA me! Would love to give a year’s worth of time to the ASPCA.
Elizabeth B says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year AND money, I’d open a women’s health clinic with an OB unit in West Africa.
katherine says
Ikea me!!
I would love to go to south africa and work with aids orphans.
Carolyn says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to spend helping others I would without a doubt spend it with a local humane society, volunteering at the shelter and helping with events and fostering as many animals as I can (I can be the crazy cat lady, with a social purpose!). And/or (depending on if people would actually utilize this service I’d provide) I’d love to be a surrogate for couples (well, in a year, it’d be more like a couple), unable to conceive their own child.
Nikki Mason says
IKEA Me!!
With a year off I would start a sanctuary for neglected and abused animals.
Lauren says
IKEA me!
I would travel all over making sure people in nursing homes were truly comfortable for their last days. Just visit with them, bring them flowers, or maybe grant a few last wishes.
Crystal says
IKEA me!
I would love to take a year and start a home/support community for victims of sex trafficking here in the US. My heart is broken for these women and their children.
Jill says
IKEA me! With a year off, I would volunteer at the animal rescue and help to improve the reputation of pit bulls. After all, its all about how our furry friends are raised!
Anne says
IKEA me! (talk about a dream giveaway!!)
I am retired, but I would like to use the money to sponsor on-going workshops for kids in our elementary and middle schools on the subject of bullying. Not just a one time lecture, but hands on participation and role playing, with monthly follow-ups to discuss any difficult situations students have been dealing with regarding bullying, both in-school and after, including texting, Internet, etc.
Shirley says
IKEA ME!
I don’t think I would devote the entire year to one organization – I’d maybe split the time between 12 different opportunities.