*** 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.
Kate F. says
IKEA ME!! I’d actually love to spend some dough funding health care for people who can’t afford it.
Katy Davis says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others I would start a program that would rescue abandoned animals and give out information to pet owners on other options besides just abandoning their pets.
Joel says
IKEA Me
Probably work for Habitat for Humanity!
Celia says
Ikea me! I would be planting trees somewhere!
heidi @ wonder woman wannabe says
IKEA me!
I would find a way to help orphans for a year.
Jessica W. says
IKEA ME!!!!! I am an interior Designer, and I would love to help with habitat for humanity more. Not really just for decorating since that isn’t always a need,but just in better space planning to better suit families!
Jules says
IKEA ME!
There is a great program in San Diego where landscape designers set up urban gardens throughout the city. You keep some of the produce and the rest of the produce goes to everyone participating. It’s a different kind of CSA, but impossible to get in my area. I would love to help them set up a branch in our area.
Nikki says
IKEA ME!
I would find a way to incorporate saving needy animals and serving food to people. Sounds unsanitary, yes – but I believe I could do it. Where there’s a will, there a way :)
Lindsay t says
Ikea me! I would start a rescue/rehab for abused pit bulls.
Anne says
IKEA me!
I would establish an organization that supports arts in education. Imagine learning math, English and science through music, dance, visual art…
Laura says
IKEA Me! I would work with Love Mercy, a maternity house for pregnant girls in Kenya.
Emily A says
IKEA me!
What would I do for a year?! I’d want to do something involving adoption, or women struggling with infertility.
(What a great giveaway! I practically live at Ikea!)
Rachel says
IKEA me!
I would buy school kits and newborn kits for underprivileged children.
Lee Green says
IKEA me!
I think the best service is figuring out a way to help strengthen families. I have absolutely no idea how to do that except through example.
Chelsea R says
IKEA Me!
And I’d spend a year working to find ways to get good, healthy food available to *all* people in my community.
escondido jess says
IKEA ME!
I have been toying with volunteering at either one of these organizations and don’t know which one I would choose – either a safe house and long-term rehabilitative services (Generate Hope) for women and children caught in sex trafficking (yes, San Diego ranks among the highest US cities for this kind of activity) or volunteering with Olive Crest, an organization that works with children in foster care. Both causes are dear to my heart.
Christina says
Ikea Me! I would help prepare underpriveledged children for school. One of the top determiners for school success is actually the simplest…being read to.
Jenny says
IKEA me!
Jason says
IKEA Me!
Either animal rescue or teach for america!
Annie P. says
IKEA Me!
A year off to do anything….I would volunteer at a teen center. Helping young women get the foundation they need to be successful!
Colleen says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer to help children in impoverished areas with physical education and nutrition.
Amy says
IKEA me!
This would be absolutely fantastic–I’ve got my eyes on a new chair!
A year off? To be honest, I’d love to have the year off to spend with my new baby. My hubby and I are both teachers, so we could head somewhere where teachers are needed and do our thing pro bono! With the kiddo, of course.
Jess G says
IKEA ME!!!
If I could take a year off…I’d go to Ethiopia & volunteer in the villages & at the hospital that my aunt helped establish…she’s pretty dang inspiring!
Philip says
IKEA Me! I would help with reconstruction efforts after natural disasters.
DaneileB says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer with an agency that helps abused and neglected animals.
Anna Shelenski says
IKEA me!
I would start a non-profit to help stay-at-home/single moms to go to school or start a business. Or offer classes or activities to young women to help build confidence, promote a healthy lifestyle, and to make smart decisions in life.
Virginia says
Ikea me!
If I had a year paid for by ikea to do volunteer work, I would love to create a program connecting STEM graduates (on both the BS and MS/PhD level) with companies and non-profits focusing on environmental and green projects.
This is what I would have loved to do myself, but all the programs I found at the time that I graduated were for PhDs with years of experience, while I only had a BS. I would love to create an entry ramp for others motivated to do good things for the planet.
kelly says
ikea me!
i would love to help out at a children’s hospital
Meredith says
IKEA me!!!
I would volunteer at a rescue animal farm caring for abused and abandoned animals.
Christy says
IKEA Me!
I’d like to serve by helping rescue animals or at a food shelf serving others in our community.
Jessa C. says
Ikea Me!
I would work with start-up urban search and rescue canine teams. I’ve worked some with service dogs, but there is an increasing need for urban search and rescue (city sniffing is much harder than rural sniffing). Plus… puppies!
Trena says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer at a nursing home or senior citizens community. The elderly are often forgotten about and it would be nice to show them that the “young” are not so bad. They often think our generation has gone to pots!!
Barb says
IKEA Me! I would work at our local horse rescue.
Laura M. says
Ikea me!
Im not sure what I would do with the year, but it would most likely encompass international travel and working with teenagers to improve their lives/mentor them, that sort of thing.
Tiffany says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer at middle schools to help improve kids’ science and math skills and to show them how fun science can be!
Chanda says
IKEA me!
I would spend the year helping local animal shelters with the goal towards becoming no kill shelters. We have some serious problems in the deep south and there are alot of shelters that need help badly.
Lacretia says
Ikea ME! I’d use the time to volunteer to tutor kids in underfunded school districts.
Debbie S says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at a local Children’s hospital…entertaining and helping cancer patients whose parents are less than involved :(
sylvie says
Ikea Me!
Shalen says
IKEA ME! I would love to work with orphans somewhere… anywhere!!!
Laura says
IKEA Me! I would work with abused women and children.
Heather says
Ikea Me!
I don’t know what I would do to help others for a year, but I know that I’m planning an Ikea trip for next week, with or without a gift card!
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
I’d spend a year developing support systems for families living/caring for elders with dementia/alzheimers. I help care for my grandmother who lives with us and it isn’t easy, but worth every moment and you CAN find humor/ joy in it all…
Amy says
IKEA ME! If I had $100,000 to help others, I’d LOVE to raise a bunch of foster kids. We’ve had such an amazing time with our little man these last 2 years, and I would love to open our home to other kids who need a mom and dad.
Meghan says
IKEA ME!
If I could have a year off…man-o-man…I would either:
1. Volunteer at the Humane Society
2. Get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters
3. Build houses w/ Habitat for Humanity
So many choices!
Caryn says
IKEA Me!
I think I would spend 1 year going to the medically underserved areas our our country and providing medical care and classes. I work in medicine and see daily the impact lack of medical coverage has on my tiny piece of this country. Give me 1 year and I could help so much
Tina says
IKEA Me!
I wish I knew what I could do…with 3 kids and a 4th on the way its hard to imagine taking a year off right now! Maybe it could pay for baby sitters so I could volunteer at the local school more? Or volunteer in other places in the community? It sounds like a wonderful program.
Sara says
IKEA ME! My husband and I would love to spend a year installing solar in rural African villages.
Kelly Crow says
IKEA Me!..I would love to volunteer or startup a program to help Military families.
Lindsay Bira says
IKEA me!
i would run a poetry program with acutely psychotic inpatients at the state hospital. i would love that.