*** 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.
Laurie Schwartz says
IKEA ME
I would spend a year volunteering in an elementary school
Jak says
Ikea me.
An entire year? Wow. I would like to figure out a way to educate basic finances to help prevent those in/falling into debt. And in my spare time find a way to make it easier/inspire those who don’t have a year off to help others of their choosing.
Melissa Sharp says
IKEA Me!!! :)
I’d love to spend a year working with an environmental group. Fun!
Libby says
Ikea me!
I would teach kids how to grow food and cook.
sommer bussey says
ikea me!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!
This is actually my plan for a year or two out – travel to a part of the world (E. Europe, South America, India?) and make no plans other than to go town to town asking each community what they need an extra set of hands for. I call it grassroots volunteering… starting directly at the community level. :)
Nancy says
IKEA me!!!
I would start a program to help immigrant/second language learners that are in high school. As an English teacher, I see how difficult it is for these kids to get on the right path for success with only limited English.
tess davis says
IKEA ME!
honestly, there are so many worthwhile causes, it would take me some time to choose the one i’d want to devote my time to. so i’ll start some soul searching in case i win!
Erica says
IKEA me!
I would love to work with young girls and teach them to love themselves for what they can do, not what they look like!
Tonya says
IKEA ME! Ikea is my happy place. I could spend days wandering the store and never run out of ideals of what I would do if time and money were limitless.
Caroline says
IKEA me!! I would volunteer by teaching children in order to improve the education system in the U.S.
Kelly says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer my time to counsel and mentor homeless and at risk youth.
Julie says
IKEA Me
Help revive a library in need!
Lindsey says
“Ikea me!!”
I would love to spend time volunteering in an inner city school…specifically concentrating on technology education.
amy says
Ikea meeeee!
I have always wanted to start a no kill dog shelter.
Robin says
IKEA ME!
Volunteer for a children’s literacy or nutrition program.
kathy says
IKEA me! Some basic financial counseling, as well as some basic “dress for success” and makeup workshops would be worthwhile. I’d like to volunteer with women who are working to get their lives on track.
Rob says
If I could spend one year helping others, I would start a program where I would take middle school aged children and teach them “home economics” skills; such as how to work on their homes and how to take care of their properties. Many schools have done away with home economics, arts and sports education and I think its important to help our youth learn skills that will always be helpful whether you own or rent a home. In general being an educated consumer, knowing how our homes and daily lives affect others and the environment is important – tack onto that learning skills for a better or improved domestic life, whether it be good financial management and civics and we might improve the quality of life.
Kristin says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer for veterans.
Isabella says
Ikea me!
I’d help out our local foster care system.
Leigh Reynolds says
Ikea Me!
I would start a non-profit legal clinic for people in foreclosure. I love this blog. It’s so fun to read about window treatments, floor finishes and how much we LOVE our “fixer uppers”. It’s great to have found folks who share my passion for living a little smaller and making a modest space so charming and warm. I can’t help but think about the folks who are losing their beloved to foreclosure.
CostumeDiva says
Wowza, great giveaway! If I could spend a year helping others I would travel the country bringing theater, music, dance and visual arts to after school programs. Children need an arts education, it should not be a luxury!
Thanks youngsters!
liz@littlepeaceofhome says
IKEA me!!! I will use the fabulously generous $350 gift card to finish decorating my husband’s office.
I would volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children and donate the money to all the local chapters that need improvement.
Blair says
IKEA ME!!
Mel says
Ikea me!
Amy brady says
IKEA me: so many things I’ve dreamed about for this. My top ideas would be to create a backpacking and outdoor adventure experience for youth and adults with disabilities. And another one would be to take youth to places they’ve never been like the mountains or the ocean.
CostumeDiva says
Oh darn, I forgot to say “Ikea me!”
Rob says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could spend one year helping others, I would start a program where I would take middle school aged children and teach them “home economics” skills; such as how to work on their homes and how to take care of their properties. Many schools have done away with home economics, arts and sports education and I think its important to help our youth learn skills that will always be helpful whether you own or rent a home. In general being an educated consumer, knowing how our homes and daily lives affect others and the environment is important – tack onto that learning skills for a better or improved domestic life, whether it be good financial management and civics and we might improve the quality of life.
April says
Ikea me pretty pleasssseeeee! I’d move our whole family to Africa for the year and serve orphans!
Melissa Salber says
IKEA me!!
I would spend one year teaching individuals to read (illiteracy is considered a national epidemic)!!
Kate says
Ikea Me!
I would spend the year in rural Alaskan villages improving housing for native families (I’m the happy wife of an adorable Yu’pik eskimo)
Michelle says
Ikea me!
I’d take the money and turn it into a scholarship for a student who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the college degree. I feel like education advances society in general and I would like other people to have the opportunities I have had.
Caitie R says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer with an animal shelter.
Judy says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping the victims of trafficking rehabilitate and acclimate
Connie says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer to help teachers and students. I know what its like to be a teacher, and to be overwhelmed by the diverse needs. I always go home, thinking I just need a little more time with Little….. I firmly believe that teachers and students need support. So many children lack support from home, and as educators we are encouraged to reach out to families; but in the same token we are told that we can’t control what goes on at home. So thier education is ultimately our responsibility. I firmly believe that support is needed in the classrooms.
Marta says
Ikea Me!
I’ve always wanted to build a house with Habitat For Humanity. It seems like it would be such a great experience and you could LEARN HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE!
Winnie says
IKEA me!
Tuli says
IKEA ME!
I would probably volunteer with habitat for humanity or go into the peace corp.
Dana Fontaine says
IKEA ME!!
I would like to spend the year photographing women and children who have gotten themselves out of an abusive home situation and are beginning their new life in a new home.
I believe every woman faced with this situation deserves a positive reminder for both her and her children that they have each other, that they are loved and that they are capable of succeeding on their own.
Christina says
IKEA ME
I am a RN, and I recover people from surgery, but if I could volunteer my time I would work to help battered women in domestic violence situations and their children get to a safer place. No one needs to live in fear or loose hope just because they feel like they have no where to turn.
Kari says
IKEA ME!!! I’d spend the year finding well designed programs that people havve started but need a little money to run, and given them grants… but I don’t necessarily care what they do so long as it’s helpful to the community and a need!
Rachel says
IKEA me!! Awesome giveaway! I would spend a year doing equine therapy for physically and emotionally challenged kids. It’s a unique approach that offers enormous benefits, but it’s expensive and challenging to carry out.
Jess says
Ikea me!
I’d spend the year advocating for women’s health and lobbying against abstinence-only sex “education,” both in the US and the developing world.
Mallory says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year at a village in the Dominican Republic our church recently “adopted,” helping dig latrines, build a school, dig wells for clean water, help train and build up leaders and walk along side a developing community.
Emily says
I would volunteer for Invisible Children
Molly says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year volunteering in orphanages across the globe to help HIV+ and other special needs children get the care and attention that they need. While doing this, I’d also take lots of photos of the children and advocate to find them families.
Amanda Y says
IKEA ME please!!!
I would take one year and concentrate on the urban poor in WPB Florida. I would focus on bringing local churches together to buy and rehab houses for deserving families and children. And dec them all out in IKEA furniture and accessories!!!! :)
Tsh @ Simple Mom says
Ikea me!
I would help set up shelters and schools for children rescued from trafficking rings internationally.
Erin says
IKEA Me! I would spend some time volunteering at the local homeless shelter in my town, and then I would tour the world joining in with my friends and family in the volunteer work they’re involved in (working with college students, wells for African villages, a Malawi school, etc.)
aknapoli says
Ikea me! I’d volunteer at Habitat for Humanity.