*** 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…
******************************
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.
jody says
IKEA ME! i’d do a camp for kids with down syndrome.
Jennifer says
Ikea me, please! I would love to spend a year expanding and growing a project already begun by my mom. She raised enough money to create a library for a rural elementary school in Nepal. The next goal is to get the other school supplies (i.e., microscopes and globes), as well as access to computers.
Jenn says
IKEA ME!!
I live in the Fairbanks area while my selfless husband serves in the Air Force. Maybe not the ideal location for me but I thrive at challenges. I’d like to help serve while we’re here by working with kids at their schools. This area is notorious for drop-outs, alcoholism, and some pretty tough backgrounds. If I could spend my time making even a bit of a difference then this assignment would be a success. I’m lucky and I’ve been so fortunate to have everything that I do. If I can enpower young people then maybe it helps me deserve this wonderful life a bit more.
Vanessa says
IKEA me! I’m a vet. I would take a year off and spend day after day neutering truckloads of animals for free. This world really needs it..
Heather B says
IKEA me!!! I’d love to help foster kids and orphans have somebody to look up to!
Carolyn says
ikea me!!!
Carrie says
Ikea me!!
I would love to volunteer with the American Cancer Society, doing what I can do support patients and their families.
katherine says
IKEA Me!!!
I would do what I’m already doing just on a greater scale, volunteering at Planned Parenthood, various animal organizations, and work with local elementary schools.
Hayley Baum says
IKEA ME!
Since my husband is an Army Ranger, and frequently away, I would help the troops with that money. Not only sending things overseas, but helping families here on the homefront with more family advocacy programs, family readiness groups, activities, supports, and job training for the wives. I’d also try to give a scholarship to an army spouse, because it is extremely difficult to finish a degree and find a good job when you are constantly moving from crappy military town, to crappy military town.
Carol says
IKEA ME!!!
I would like to teach the “Financial Independence” philosophy to others, mainly children.
Taylor says
IKEA ME!
I would start safe routes to school programs in suburban neighborhoods to teach children how to walk, bike, and ride transit safely to school (and also help buy bicycles for those children whose families can’t afford them).
Cynthia says
IKEA ME!!!
Janet Payne says
IKEA ME! PLEASE!
I would spend the year training to be a harp therapists and use my developing harp skills to bring peace and calm to the ill and dying of all ages in hospitals, Hospice, and nursing homes once I competed my training. I have been a public school teacher for 24 years and have recently started harp lessons and discovered harp therapy. I can see a new dream of easing the suffering of others through the music of the harp. This money would also assist in providing harps for the patients to play themselves.
Susan says
IKEA Me!
I would work with girls in some capacity to help improve their self esteem and self worth.
Carey Christensen says
IKEA me!
Volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Meghan says
IKEA ME! I would start a program to make our kids healthier: better school lunches and more activity, both in school and out.
Heather says
IKEA ME!!!!….PLEASE!!!!!
I am a teacher at a juvenile detention center. I would use the money to provide educational (technology, books, motivational scholarships, advocacy, foster care support) to the residents at the facilty!!!
I would also like to take a small portion of the money and then donate it to other smaller organizations around the community that focus on child advocacy and be able to volunteer there too! :)
Paula M. says
IKEA me!
If I had a one-year sabbatical, I’d like to use it to teach kids about something that would help both them and their communities (at-home or community gardening; cooking and canning; animal care; habit restoration/preservation; art through recycling … and for the older kids, things like woodworking, metalwork, building bike trails, being community outreach workers, working with the elderly, being event docents, helping with voter registration or empowerment of the disenfranchised). Something good for the mind, body and soul.
Sandhya says
IKEA me!!!!
Id create mobile video learning workshops for streetkids.
Micole Ogletree says
IKEA ME!!
I would rescue as many dogs as I could!
Steph says
IKEA me!
I would travel the world to take photographs for NGOs, ministries and humanitarian projects so that they could get more exposure.
kortnei says
IKEA Me!! I was just there a few hours ago! :)
I would chose to spend a year rescuing animals and fighting to stop legal breeding of animals. There are thousands of animals out there that are homeless and euthanized every day, while people continue to breed others to make money. It is a heart breaking thing that should get more attention and I would love to have a chance to make a difference.
allison says
IKEA me! I’d create a program for teen parents, to include parenting classes, moms/dads groups, fun outings for the parents & kids, etc.
Page says
IKEA me!!! I love IKEA and could for sure do some much needed home design with this!
If I could volunteer for a year, I would start a non-profit that made clothes for orphans in another country, or that made and sold clothes and crafts here for the purpose of clothing orphans in other countries.
Or I would LOVE to spend a year in a third world country educating those less fortunate (I’m a teacher), and teaching a trade like sewing to a community so they could earn a living. I would help them sell their goods in America. At the same time, I would love to care for and love on kids in an orphanage during this year.
pattilouwho says
“IKEA Me!”
I would want to help kids some how.
Brittany says
IKEA Me!
I’m finally getting my first non transitional apartment (meaning not a apartment I plan on moving out of after a year because of school) in a month or so and this would be so perfect for setting it up. If I had a year off I’d help unemployed people redesign their resumes so they don’t look like your standard word document. Makes them look more professional and put together. :)
Shelly says
IKEA ME
I would use the money to financially help young terminally ill patients and their families while they are undergoing treatment.
John Marcotte says
IKEA Me!
I think I’d spend a year and a portion of the money IKEA is offering establishing a program to help at risk in my local school system. There are many, many good causes — but it’s hard to argue against helping kids.
Julia says
OMG IKEA ME. I would work to improve inner city schools! “I believe that children are the future…” yes cheesy quote
Jen says
I would love to spend that money educating more women regarding their childbirth rights and options so they can make informed decisions regarding their care.
Michaela says
IKEA me! My husband and I would move to Africa and work at the fistula hospital in Ethiopia
Keith says
IKEA ME!
I would set up an alternative school system that took kids out of the classroom to teach them about history, literature, and art. Places like museums and other trips to have a more hands-on experience.
brittany says
Ikea me!
But really, I just want to spend a year helping young women just like me with PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PCOS effects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. It is a horrible syndrome to live with as it destroys self esteem and confidence, and often, women find that they are not able to conceive. It is rarely diagnosed and thus, women rarely know that there is hope and that they can reverse their symptoms completely with the right diet and support. I have been fortunate enough to reverse my symptoms (and my life!) and would love to give hope to the millions of women who are feeling hopeless.
Rebecca says
Holy moly! 7000+ comments?! Way to go guys!
Ikea me if you please!
Anything to help anyone? I think I would spend it traveling around and helping with every Habitat for Humanity that I could. I think it’s a fantastic cause and something I would definitely enjoy doing. It would teach me a lot quite, not just mentally and emotionally but physically building things would be great.
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!
I would start an interior decorating non profit organization to service children and women’s shelters.
Stefanie T says
IKEA ME!! I would love to continue my work with after school programming for children! Thanks!!
April says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could spend a year helping others, I’d want to do get kids to read and write. Especially teens, but even younger kids. I want them to be excited about reading, and giving them books that will invite them to think. I want to teach them how to write stories of their own, and ways they can share those stories with the world (get published).
Too many teens are jaded these days. I’m glad some of them are reading Harry Potter and the like (reading something is better than not reading at all), but there are other books out there they’d love if they’d only give them a chance.
And the kids can be so creative! But they’re stifled by stay-in-the-norm academic testing and busy, but unfulfilling, life styles. I want to give them a way to escape—a place they can go to feel fulfilled and to recharge—through reading and writing their own stories.
Samantha says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer of LIGALY (Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth) and try to promote acceptance and anti bullying in schools for both heterosexual and LGBT young adults, bullying is an epidemic and needs to be stopped!!
April says
Oops. I meant “I’d want to help get kids to read and write.”
Cassidy says
IKEA me!
Rescue/ try to find homes for animals in kill shelters.
LoriSF says
IKEA me!
I would help children.
Rebecca Foxworth says
IKEA me!
I would take the year to speak to churches, clubs, parent teacher groups, and service organizations about the incredible number of adoptable older children available in the United States today. Though many foster adopt situations can require little or no cost, many adoptions of older children are currently prevented due to a lack of family funds to cover adoption fees. If members of organizations would identify those within their ranks who have a heart for adoption but not the funds, and would either contribute or raise funds to facilitate those adoptions, just think of how many children and families would be blessed.
Ruth says
IKEA Me!!!
Help get kids outside… Showing them natural experiences in their ‘backyard’. Everything from kayaking to climbing :)
Robin says
Ikea ME! As a former teacher in a low-income area, I have seen first-hand how poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life, especially those children being bounced around from family to family and school to school in the foster care system. I would build a program that advocates for continuity in the lives of foster kids and the families that care for them, including an after-school tutoring and character-building program, and seminars and education for foster care families to help support the very vital role they play in these childrens’ lives.
mandybird says
IKEA me, please!
especially with $100,000 to help out, i think it would be great to open a cafeteria/restaurant where needy kids could get meals and learn about nutrition, but also work and learn about the restaurant business.
Jen says
Ikea me – I’d start an intensive therapy center for kids with autism.
Whitney says
IKEA ME! Please?
ashkappa says
IKEA Me!
There’s so much I’d like to help with… homeless shelters, animal causes, etc.
Kristin says
ikea me!
i would be a missionary in split, croatia, sharing the love of jesus with people!
Design Girl (Cori Busch) says
IKEA Me!
I would definitely use the money to help children!