*** 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.
bobbi caldwell says
IKEA ME! I love Ikea – if I were volunteering it would be AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM – helping kids learn to read would be my favorite!
Carrie says
I work for a non profit already, but our sister company is a domestic abuse shelter that is ALWAYS hurting for help. I would spend my year and money on that!
Amanda Stoker says
IKEA ME!
I’ve always wanted to have a rescue shelter for animals. It’s always been a goal of mine.
Daniela Conn says
IKEA me!
I am a teacher who has taught at a public school for the past 3 years, but now works at a prestigious private school in the area. I would like to spend the year teaching teachers, not students, how to teach. That’s right. Teachers seem to have lost the whole point we became teachers in the first place, and its not for the money. They don’t know how to make learning meaningful to their students. Most of the teachers I work with stand and lecture, lecture, lecture. There students do not internalize anything they are learning, and therefore, have no appreciation for the subject they are learning.
Sarah says
Ikea me! I would use the money to start a program using therapy dogs for autistic children at our local center for autism spectrum kiddos. I love kids AND animals!
MichelleS says
IKEA ME!
I would love to take a year to promote literacy programs in schools. I currently teach high school English, and I see the need for reading in the home and from day one everyday!
Maya says
IKEA me!
I would spend my year helping children in Haiti in some way.
ashlie says
ikea me please! i would start a nonprofit organization that provides gorgeous picture and fiction books, storytelling classes, and opportunities for people in low-income communities to tell their stories for audiences or on recordings (much like StoryCorps- maybe with StoryCorps?). with or without the 100,000 dollar grant, I may have to work on this.
Sara B. says
IKEA ME!
Meghan says
IKEA me!
I would love to volunteer in a program that used the outdoors to help at risk youth. The program would include things that would challenge the children and provide them with a sense of accomplishment (such as summiting mountains or rafting down a river).
Lucia says
IKEA me!
I would love to spend a year volunteering at an international organization that promotes maternal literacy.
Dannielle says
IKEA ME!
I have always really loved the idea of helping young children with self esteem issues. I once found a great program for children who just needed a friend, sort of like big brother/big sister, children are having such a hard time in recent years. Volunteering time to help children.
Courtney says
IKEA ME! I would spend the year mentoring elementary age students who are falling through the cracks.
Heather says
ikea me :)
we have friends heading to Africa to start feeding centers. it would be neat to spend a year helping them get started
Nicole says
IKEA ME! I would follow project Smile (for Cleft Palate) and provide Speech-Language Therapy or help build with Habitat for Humanity.
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I think I would continue to work as a band teacher in my school district (Fairfax County, VA) and do a case study on how much progress these kids could actually make if we had band class every day rather than just once a week. That would have to be at a lower income school of course.
Cresse says
IKEA ME!
I would open a non profit to help children with autism and their families take vacations
Diane Taylor says
IKEA ME!
Wow – what a wonderful give away. I would use this to redo our master bedroom – which is a complete eyesore right now.
Thanks you guys :) and thanks Ikea!
Shelley says
IKEA ME!!!!!!! I would help people by helping people help themselves…I would volunteer at the Literacy Center.
Shelley
Megan says
IKEA ME!
I would do STEM outreach to young kids (girls especially). We need more lady scientists/engineers in the world!
Cecily T says
IKEA Me!
Hmmm…this is a tough call. I did Americorps for a year, and my most rewarding experience from that was helping someone get their GED so they could start college. I tutored her in algebra. SO I think I’d probably like to help others get GEDs to improve their education and chances of getting a good job.
Megan says
IKEA me!!
I would love to help out at an animal therapy ranch – you know, where they bring kids with illnesses like autism and use the animals to help them find some peace, calm, and normalcy.
Lisa says
IKEA ME!
I would use the money to create an after school care program to prevent children being home alone until their parents get home. So few programs are available and they are usually expensive and first come first server. There is too much demand and not enough supply.
Heidi says
IKEA ME!!! I currently work in community development and I’d love to take a year and focus entirely on education and job opportunities for the homeless.
Erica says
Ikea Me!
I would teach children around the world
Abby says
IKEA Me!
I think I’d have to say that I’d work on helping with the literacy problems that we have in this country. I’d probably try to go to schools and read to the little ones and help the older ones get better at reading. It is something EVERYONE deserves to know how to do and the literacy rate is just not high enough!
Sarah L. says
IKEA me!
I would love to be able to help young mothers who are in difficult situations.
Emily says
IKEA ME!!!! PLEASE!!! I would most definitely work for some sort of SPCA or animal shelter or something to help all those lovely poor furbabies that can’t help themselves.
tamara says
ikea me, please! as a missourian, the puppy mill capitol of the world, I would work to free dogs from this horrible life. I would help with the rescues and placement of these poor creatures. I’ve already taken in several, but with big bucks, I could do so much more!
April says
IKEA me!
I would love to start a program that, free of charge, would teach adults (both native and non-native speakers) to read and write. As a teacher, I feel that literacy is THE MOST important skill I could possibly give my students. I believe that learning to read and write should be a right, not a privilege. Life is hard, but being literate will make it a little easier.
Lauren R says
Ikea ME!!
Lisa Smith says
Ikea Me!
Tjat would take some thought. So many areas to persue.
Monica S. says
IKEA Me!
I currently volunteer at a natural food cooperative in my area about 10 hours a month (I am busy getting my Master’s degree and working full time, too). I would love to be able volunteer full time. I’m a strong advocate for local foods/products, organic farming methods, and sustainable business practices. By helping this young coop grow, I would be helping local farmers and producers to thrive.
Whitney D. says
Ikea me!
As a teacher, I would love to spend a year traveling to other schools, helping them find ways to improve what they are already doing. Our school offers incredibly healthy, mostly organic meals and I would love to spread the news about these lunches and how other school can implement this program. Yum!
Dialevash says
“Ikea Me”
I would love to help children. I’d love to be a foster parent sometime in the future.
Jessica R. says
Ikea Me!!
I would volunteer at a local Dachshund rescue.
Jamie says
Ikea Me!
I would work to create a no-kill animal shelter in my county. It really saddens me to know that so many animals in need of a home are euthanized every year. Part of the program would serve to educate potential pet owners about the responsibilities involved with owning a pet and how spaying/neutering would help with overcrowding that facilitates euthanization.
Jenn says
Ikea me!
I’d be so torn between helping needy children and helping needy animals, I might just have to start a foundation that welcomes both!
Jenny @ Simcoe Street says
IKEA me!
And if I had the year? I’d do what I love and what I do now (working with kids with various traumatic experiences and mental health issues) but get paid a decent salary.
Christina says
“IKEA Me!” I would volunteer at the local food bank.
Casey S. says
Ikea me!!
I’m a special ed. teacher but dream of starting an after school program for individuals with autism where we’ll work on social skills. Those couple of hours after school are usually the hardest for these kids and their parents and many regular after school programs can’t or won’t work with them.
Belky says
Ikea Me!! I would love the opportunity to help those who live in abject poverty in Haiti.
debi says
Ikea and Me! Create a school library in an African village
Heather says
IKEA Me!
Like many posters, I’d spend the year helping children. There are so many great organizations already established that need help (volunteer and monetary). I’d use the money and my time to work with one or several of those groups.
Sherri says
IKEA Me!!! If I had a year to help other people I would get involved in local children’s programs, maybe even start a new one. My husband coaches the local recreation baseball and soccer teams and he really enjoys working with the kids. I’m not into sports, so I’d find another activity to involve children in so they could build confidence and stay out of trouble.
Julie says
IKEA me! My year would be spent working with our local animal shelter, and also volunteering at our wonderful organization for victims of domestic violence. Both causes that are very near and dear to my heart.
jdmosby says
IKEA Me!
Amber says
IKEA ME! I would volunteer at an orphanage somewhere.
Susan says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at a farm sanctuary to help rehabilitate and care for farm animals rescued from slaughter at factory farms.
Ashley says
IKEA ME!!
I would volunteer to teach children and families about nutrition and healthy cooking.