*** 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.
teamarnott says
IKEA me! I would spend my time helping people set up backyard gardens and teaching them how to market their produce/products at one of our many local farmers markets or food co-ops. Healthy eating and small business development!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME! I’d spend the year working with high schoolers – listening to their dreams and trying to show them how they can work to reach those goals. For some it would be college, others trade school – whatever they wanted!
Erin E. says
IKEA Me!
I would want to focus my year on ending animal cruelty.
dawn says
IKEA me!
If I had a year to help others, I’d volunteer to help kids, either by reading in schools, being a homework helper at my local library or some other need I haven’t even thought of yet!
krstn says
Ikea me please!
I’ve never given much thought to it, but I’d like to do some kind of project with poor teenagers trying to enter college.
stacey says
IKEA and me!
If I had a year off, I would help to socialize dogs rescued from puppy mills. Our dog spent her first three years of life in a puppy mill before she was rescued. We’ve seen first hand what an amazing turn around these dogs can make when they are treated with patience, gentleness and kindness.
Jordan thompson says
Ikea Me! Me and Landon are in school for nursing to eventually live over seas one day, so i guess thats what we would do… the only problem is we aren’t nurses yet?
Kate says
Ikea me!!
I’d like to start a sports program for kids who would otherwise have nothing to do after school. Maybe sports and study to help the confidence of young kids.
Meredith Toraason says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would love to offer kids the chance to learn how to surf. Free surf lessons from the heart!
Ashley says
Ikea Me!! Yay!
Michelle | When I Grow Up Coach says
IKEA Me!
And I’d spend a year coaching everyone into finding out what they wanna be when they grow up, and then making it happen. Amen & hallelujah!
Elizabeth Rose says
Ikea me!
Rachelle says
IKEA me!!!!!
Meagan says
IKEA ME!
About 3 years ago I went to the Czech Republic with a team of people from a local church and we taught English and threw a summer camp for the teens. It was such an awesome experience! I went to teach, but I learned so much. I’ve been craving a return trip to work with the organization called Josiah Venture for a while now, but the funds just aren’t there. It’s an incredible, life changing experience and everyone could learn a great deal from a trip like this.
Kerry says
Ikea Me!
I think I would travel to war zones and rebuild houses. I guess it doesn’t have to be warzones. I would just go places where I’m needed and build houses.
Alex Barney says
Ikea me! I would use the money to support myself so I could spend my days visiting drug-addicted babies, and help take care of them.
April Zent says
IKEA me!!!
I’m a stay-at-home mom with three kids 5 and under. No years off for some time….
Zara Stevens says
“Ikea Me”
I currently work for a non profit providing violence prevention education in schools. I would utilize the money to help develop an anti violence campaign including video and print materials that were developed through students input and designs. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do but funding is sparse and depleting so I feel lucky to even still have a job.
ashley says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to have a free program that taught riding lessons and horse stuff to children and teens.
Michelle says
IKEA Me! I would eradicate all the bed bugs in the world – it’s making everyone so nervous of traveling!
Lauren says
IKEA ME!!! I would use the money to help fund the start up for the low cost clinic my husband and I would like to start in the city.
Stephanie says
IKEA me!! I would spend my time working with homeless animals.
Amanda says
IKEA me!!!
I’d love to start a charity that helps homeowners that are on the verge of foreclosure.
Tracie says
IKEA Me!
There are so many great causes that I’d love to dedicate all my time and energy to. If I could travel, I’d love to work with biologists to help save amphibian populations from a terrible fungal disease- I worked a bit on this as an undergrad when I was in school, but it would be pretty neat to work in the field rather than in a lab. Closer to home, I’d really like to mentor low-income, struggling middle school students so that they are successful in high school in subjects like math, science, and English.
Randi says
Ikea me!!!
I would love to spend tons of time building homes for needy people!! In the US and out of the US! So many people all around the world are in need of better living situations and I would love to help out!
Arrie says
Ikea Me! I would start a low-cost, 24-hour daycare program for single and low-income parents who need nights off for whatever reason–work, school, dates, breathing time.
Kim says
Ikea ME – please!!
Redecorating 15 year old daughter’s room – out with the little girl and in with the high school girl.
I’d love to volunteer with Dwell with Dignity, a program that provides/creates spaces that those less fortunate can feel proud to live in.
Regina says
IKEA Me! I don’t think I’d do just one thing, but instead split my time among several causes that are important to me. I’d love to work at an animal shelter and a food pantry. I’d also really like to organize a community garden.
Jami says
Ikea me!
I really love organizations like World Vision and Heifer… places that don’t just poor money into overseas communities… but really give them the tools they need to live well (livestock, seeds etc). I would want to do something that incorporates that somehow.
Savannah Brentnall says
IKEA ME! I’d work at a horse rescue. In this economy, horses are perceived as a luxury and are being starved and dumped in alarming numbers. Compared to dogs and cats, there are far fewer places equipped to take care of abandoned horses and it required much more specialized knowledge and care.
Rachelle says
Ikea me!!
i would help non-profits provide wrap-around services for those with the inability to pay for counseling, food, shelter, and transportation etc.
erica says
IKEA ME! i’d volunteer at a local health clinic.
Lendsey says
IKEA ME! I would use the money to help those in need of house repair.
Starla says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year off I would help feed the hungry.
Erin says
IKEA ME!
I would create a mentorship program for underprivileged youth in Detroit… they need all the support they can get!
Melissa Varner says
IKEA me! I’d like to start a financial planning program at a local high school. I think learning about money, saving and credit is just as valuable, if not more, than english, math and science. Kids shouldn’t learn these lessons by making money mistakes that will haunt them well into adulthood.
Meredith Barr says
Ikea me!
I would spend my year helping children in poverty learn to read!
Suzie says
Ikea me!
I’d work with inner-city children who need guidance and role models in their lives.
katie koss says
IKEA ME!
Kristin Cronkright says
IKEA Me!
This is by far one of the best giveaways you guys have hosted. Well done! :)
If I could focus all my time towards one volunteer project, it would have to be to find home for shelter dogs and cats. Those ASPCA commercials get me every time!
Andrea says
IKEA ME!!!!!
I would love to work with the education system to bring an emphasis back to the arts. So many schools are shutting these areas down and the children suffer for it. I would love to give my time to allow kids to continue to enjoy music especially.
Heather says
“IKEA ME!” I would open a home or shelter for those without one. I work in the front office of a business on main street in small town America, the number of people i see walk by each day without a place to go for warmth, peace of mind, and comfort is incredible. Having a place to rest, eat, feel at ease even if only temporary could make such a difference, help to set someone on a new path.
Thanks!
Beth says
IKEA ME! I would pick up and move back to Tanzania for the year and work with village groups doing HIV prevention work…or stay here and work with inner city youth on combating childhood obesity.
Alison says
IKEA ME! I would do something with children. Just the thought of an innocent child not having the basic needs we all take for granted tugs at my heart strings. And to have a year to devote my time would be amazing! I read other posts left here and love the idea of a community garden among others. You have such incredible and thoughtful blog readers!
Diann says
IKEA Me!
We have a wonderful organization in our area called LINK which offers a wide variety of services – a traveling homeless shelter supported by local churches, a back-to-work wardrobe thrift store, and a lot more. I would love to work with them.
MarathonVal says
Ikea me!!!
I have a lot of ideas for this (I’m a social worker so I often spend my time thinking about these types of things) but I really want to open up a nonprofit to teach students self esteem, cooking, and about the joys of running :)
Rachel Ray says
IKEA ME-A!! I would teach photography as an afterschool program to keep kids off the streets! (wow that sounds really chiche)
Jessica Davis says
IKEA ME!
I would love to do an art reachout program for public school kids. These days kids are only given the basics, math, science, english, history, but adding art and music really enriches an education and adds a layer on top of what they are already learning. As an artist who had amazing instructors through school, I would love to spend a year helping kids learn the fundamentals of the visual arts.
Kim says
IKEA Me! I really enjoyed a brief stint doing rebuilding work in New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity and some others orgs. I’d love to have more time for that!
deena says
Ikea Me!
Fun idea but a year!? Would I still have a job when I got back?!