*** 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.
Jen says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to help others, I would set up a clinic to teach low income families, new parents, etc. how to cook healthy meals on a small budget. I hate that so many people have to rely on convenience foods/fast food because they don’t know how to cook good nutritious meals on a budget.
Maggie says
I’d love to work with literacy in some capacity, especially in a refugee integration context.
Lauren says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year volunteering at different animal shelters.
Anne says
IKEA me! Passion is education.
Carly Morgan says
IKEA ME!!
Holy Hannah, I love this idea! Good for Ikea! If I won, I’d start a conflict resolution program for K-12 schools here in my state, to provide classroom management training for teachers and problem-solving classes for students. Too much time is wasted in today’s classrooms worrying about who did what to who and how to handle it!
Melissa says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!
I would spend a year working at a women’s domestic abuse shelter in my area. I’d love to be able to redecorate their space to make it feel inviting, beautiful, and functional.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
IKEA ME!
Deea says
IKEA ME!!! (please!)
I would do something that focuses on & helps the elderly. I feel like they are often a forgotten society & I have a warm spot in my heart for them.
Chanelle White says
IKEA Me!
I would open an animal shelter to teach low income individuals skills in a specific job area: pet care. Skills could include grooming training, vet tech certification, and training therapy animals. Combining my two passions– helping people in financially disadvantaged situations and pets.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping people learn life skills to help them succeed in the real world and job market!
Charli says
IKEA ME!!!!
My husband works for a non-profit that sends food packets all around the world to children to be on a year-long feeding program. I would LOVE to help deliver those packets and help the families in need in those countries.
Taryn Bechard says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend a year helping others, I would probably help children. Perhaps volunteer to day care for parents who live under the poverty level, volunteer to read books to kids, and have activity days or learning programs for kids.
Liz says
IKEA ME!
I would use the year to help families in need getting back on their feet by providing furnishings and basic household needs. Improving their lives through their living space:)
nicole ledford says
IKEA Me!
My sister and I have always wanted to start an orphanage in our parent’s home country, Cambodia, and this would be a great way to kick it off!
Jessica Atkinson says
IKEA Me!
I would love to help homeless single mothers and/or veterans.
Maggie says
IKEA me!
I’d spend a year volunteering at the nonprofit children’s literacy organization that I already work at….just donate my salary for a year!
Michelle says
I would probably volunteer my services as a doula, to make sure that all women are supported during childbirth!
Please IKEA me! There’s a million things at IKEA I could buy right now…
Mim says
IKEA Me!
I think if i could spend a year helping the world, i’d do something to focus on education in American’s inner cities. It makes me so sad that so many bright great kids fall through the cracks of our system.
Kacey says
Ikea Me!
I would spend the time working with children in need.
Danielle says
Ikea ME!!!
I would start a daycare for the little ones whos parents need to work but can it is weird hours or they don’t have the funds to pay for good care.
Zay says
IKEA ME
I think I would take off to Africa and work in some kids school.
Erin says
“IKEA Me!”
I would work closely with young women and teens and help develop programs to build strong female leaders for the future workforce.
bethany says
IKEA Me!
I think I’d want to spend that time “helping those that can’t help themselves”, which is often considered widows who can’t work for whatever reason and orphans, who obviously cannot help themselves!
April says
Ikea me! I’m in the process of buying my first place and have SO many Ikea things bookmarked for it!
I’d want to do 2 things with my year “off”: take a trip to Ecuador for 6 months and work at my family’s foundation…helping young woman and children in all areas of life. For the other 6 months, I’d want to work with this organization called Stephen Ministry and reach out to those in need, pain, etc.
brooke rains says
Ikea Me, por favor.
Kate says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year, I would work on projects to improve education, living conditions, and nutrician on Native American reservations. It’s something my husband (who’s part Native) has kind of opened my eyes to, and it would be great to help with something like that.
Amy says
IKEA Me!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME! Because my husband won’t! :)
That’s a tough one, my husband and I have decided to devote one a month minimum volunteering for different organizations. Maybe we will find one that hits home and we can find a way to help more! Great Question!
Stefanie says
IKEA me!
I would take a year off and go teach people in third world countries how to get their businesses up and running… kind of like Kiva.org, except instead of just funding them I’d help them learn how to do it.
Lauren L. says
IKEA me!
I would volunteer for a program that helps abused children.
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to help out in some of my city’s schools. I’d love to do some sort of after-school program for at risk youth.
Coco says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year teaching music to children. Why not give them something fun in their lives?
RA says
Ikea me!
I have a friend who runs a non-profit in China, and while I volunteer on this side of the world when I can, it would be awesome to work on the project full-time for them!
Alissa says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year rescuing dogs…
Anna says
IKEA ME!
I love children and work with children every day, so anything I can do to help an underprivileged child would be rewarding.
Another passion is helping men and women in recovery. I see the struggles these people go through. Some of them need the simple basics like clothing and transportation just to get a jump on the right track. It’s extremely hard to stay sober when you are dealing with trying to find a job, getting there, looking appropriate for the job, and making meetings and counseling.
Deb says
IKEA ME !!!!
I wish they had more Ikea stores around.
My volunteer year off would be to help out with Senior Citizens, they always seem like the “forgotten” one’s. I love listening to the stories they tell and just being with them is a JOY !!!
Katy says
IKEA me! :)
I’d love to volunteer with habitat for humanity for a year. I think it’s such an amazing organization and would love to help build homes for families who wouldn’t have a roof over their heads otherwise. Perhaps even take it one step further and help decorate with them, to really make it feel like a home!
Natalie Williams says
I would start a non profit to help families who are dealing with a loved one who has a life threatning disease.
Kari says
IKEA me!
Laura says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to help children in some way…whether it would be children coming from domestic violence or homeless families or children with cancer…anything. I love kids. :)
Jennifer says
ikea me!
erica p. says
IKEA ME!
I would spend my time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society.
Erin says
Ikea me!
I would work in the Denver Metro area middle and high schools educating school staff, students, parents and community members about anti-gay/bullying issues. As a mother of 4 and a pediatric nurse I see how bullying affects children. This is a subject I am very passionate about and it deeply saddens me that there is not more help out there. I was recently told by the vice principal at my 13 year olds middle school that they do not have funding for such programs. Yet bullying continues on and off campus, on and off line, and it will continue to be a problem if no one helps. I want to help.
Emily says
IKEA me!
I would spend the year teaching job skills to women in Sub-Saharan Africa so that they could lead more autonomous and economically stable lives.
Sarah says
IKEA ME.
I would start my dream non profit. I’ve had it in my head since my daughter was born prematurely. It would be called “Grace’s Gifts” and it would be for all parents with an infant in the NICU. They would get a little package that would help them assimilate to the NICU experience.
Heather Spohr started something similar after her daughter passed away. She is my idol!
Miki says
IKEA ME! I already work in a helping profession as a counselor to school aged children. I’d love to be able to extend my work by being able to start a college and career counseling program that could offer in-depth pro bono consultative services and prepatory classes.
Leah aka Momma O says
Ikea me! We need better toy storage!
I would spend the money helping young mothers, especially to help continue their education if possible. I was 19 when I first became a mom to my now 3.5 year old daughter. I was blessed to have a LOT of support and gifts to help me provide for my daughter but I know so many who don’t have that same support system, whether emotionally or physically. I especially am grateful that I was able to finish my college education with a baby/toddler on my hip and would love to encourage others to keep pushing forward to finish (or even to begin!) and help them find a way to make it work. It’s so worth it, not just for better jobs but the boost to the self-esteem that “I did it!” What a great example that is to our kids :-)
Tenille says
IKEA Me!!!
In memory of my mother, I would spend a year helping those affected by domestic violence. October is domestic violence awareness month. Go purple!
Goldie says
IKEA ME!!!
I would help in an after school program.
Carrie S says
IKEA Me!
I would love to volunteer with a charity that helps sick children and their parents.