*** 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.
Ikea ME!! says
I would work with immigrants and children
Noelle says
IKEA Me!
I would take the year and use my new legal degree to do pro bono work. There are so many people who are suffering with various legal issues (family, housing, taxes, unemployment, etc.) and cannot afford legal counsel to advise them.
reeve says
IKEA ME!!! Pretty please, I need a bed. I think I would start some sort of HEALTHY homeless kitchen. Serving healthy food to people in need and also teaching classes and seminars on healthy eating.
Helene says
IKEA ME please!!!!
My three-year-old calls it “mykea” and “yourkea”… Needless to say we need this gift card ;-)
Thanks for the giveaway! Your blog is awesome!
Jalaine says
IKEA me! I would volunteer with Make A Wish Foundation.
Kaethe says
IKEA me!
I would spend a year creating a small local version of 826 Valencia.
Christin Silver says
IKEA ME!
If I could take one year off, I would volunteer my time at homeless shelters in my area. I had the opportunity to do so this weekend, and it was a very rewarding experience. I’d love to devote more time to helping those down on their luck.
Valerie says
IKEA Me!
If I had $100,000 and one year, I would travel to a third world country and work with children, teaching them about nutrition.
Nikki says
IKEA ME!
I spent two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer, working in schools in NYC. If I could do another volunteer year I would want to start a foundation that gives grants to fund fair wage social work positions at schools and non-profits.
Chelsey says
IKEA me!
Erin says
Ikea Me!!!
I would love to help out with the many woman’s shelters around the US.
Sara says
IKEA Me!
I would start a rescue organization to help homeless animals.
Miranda says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year helping rescue animals find permenant homes. Everyone should experience the love a pet can give and there are so many needy and worthy pets out there!
Katherine Fehn says
IKEA ME PLEASE!!!
I’d like to work at a Women’s Shelter that have chosen life over other alternatives when faced with unplanned pregancies.
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!!
I would help at a woman’s/children shelter.
Yevette Shaver says
IKEA me!
Brittany says
Ikea me!!
I would spend the year traveling to different depressed areas helping out where I could.
Faye Middleton says
IKEA ME! I am currently a 5th grade teacher in TX. I would open up schools in Mexico (or other countries) so everyone would receive a public education!
Julie says
Ikea Me!!
Offer nutrious meals/food to local food pantries/soup kitchens.
Sabrina says
IKEA me!
Help women in Africa with a skill building project to them sell and raise money
Tara says
IKEA ME! I would split my time between an animal shelter and a soup kitchen. How wonderful would it be to just be able to help people and animals for an entire year?!
Erin says
Ikea me! Pretty please?
I would spend the year building homes with Habitat for Humanity for people in need.
Lynette Abney says
IKEA ME!
I would love to have the opportunity to do something incorporating pre-teen girls or around age 8-14,an organic garden, art and animals; as well as photography to document the experience.
My vision is to inspire and empower young girls, to build their self respect and esteem, to show them they are beautiful just as they are.
We would start with learning a healthy lifestyle by starting an organic garden from the ground up, from watering system to compost to harvest and then share our bounty with the hungry.
Art would be a form of self expression, as well as an avenue to open up conversation on issues the girls may be facing. We would design and paint murals around the community (as allowed). Animals have always been a source of comfort and unconditional love as well as the girls learning to care about someone other than themselves. We would foster an animal. Photography would document the experience and transformation of the girls learning not only to care about and love themselves but also others and the world we live in. Communication, love, friendship, acceptance, team work, would be the weaving thread on this journey.
Kara says
IKEA me, please!!!
If I had a year to better the world…gosh, what a great question. :) I think I would work with under funded food pantries & work towards getting more publicity for them so they could serve more people without worrying about the financial burden.
Christy B says
IKEA ME!!!
Marianne says
Ikea Me!
Katie Weber says
Ikea Me! I would like to volunteer at a pregnancy center helping new young moms.
jenn says
Ikea me! host writing workshops for women living below the poverty line.
Anna says
Ikea Me! I would spend the year volunteering at the youth camp I grew up working at.
Kathy A says
Ikea me! Since I was a single teen mom, they have a special place in my heart. I would volunteer at a pregnancy center or somewhere I could help and encourage young moms.
Karen says
IKEA Me!
Animal shelter
Melissa says
IKEA ME!! I would help get our sleepy little town back on the map. Recently there has been a major push to get small businesses going again and I would love to be able to help with that initiative.
Andy says
IKEA ME!
Volunteer teaching computers and technology to underprivileged youth in small towns across the US.
Alli says
IKEA me!!!
It’s funny, my husband and I were just recently talking about how we wish we had the kind of financial situation that would allow us to do something just like this. I think I’d spend the year working on Habitat for Humanity and other community restoration projects.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!!! (I love love love Ikea!)
I’m getting into photography, and I’d love to start a program that hosts ‘fashion shows’ (or dress up parties) at children’s hospitals. I’d love to get the kids all dressed up & do a fashion show & photo shoot with them. I can’t cure their disease, but if I could bring them & their families joy it would be a success.
Lindsey P says
IKEA me!
Rachel says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to help people, I would go down to Haiti and help with the clean-up & restoration work. The media has pretty much left Haiti now and it doesn’t seem to be on the forefront of people’s thoughts, but the devasation there is still incredible.
Amber says
Ikea me!
I would like to start school programs that teach students in underprivileged communities about global extreme poverty and conflict resolution.
Caro says
IKEA ME!
It would be so great to help build houses for a year for families who need them!
melodie lockamy says
IKEA ME!
I would take care of and help orphans in other countries find families.
Jennifer says
Ikea me!!!
I would spend the year helping animals in need. Many animals need life saving operations, but the owners may not be able to afford it and will have to put the animal down. I would like to be able to help these people and set up a foundation that others could donate to for others that will need this kind of help in the future.
Zoe says
IKEA me!
I would help teach/mentor children
Jolene says
IKEA ME!
I would start a program in a prison for inmates to help train service dogs. This would have a dual impact – helping the inmates as well as helping individuals with disabilities.
Sara Moriarty says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at under funded schools.
Billie says
IKEA ME!
I would go to Haiti to help rebuild or I would volunteer in a children’s home in my community or both.
Erin says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping to build/fix up houses or travel overseas & help provide healthcare to children in need.
Katie says
IKEA ME!!! Wow, a whole year to do good! There is so much you could do. I think I would want to have some sort of care senter for children who live in low income situations and provide for them the things that they have to miss out on. truly just love on them and their parents.
Anna O'Neill says
IKEA ME…Please!
I would volunteer my time to serve the elderly.
Michelle says
IKEA ME!
As a teacher, I would absolutely spend my year in some way expanding on the educational experience for kids. An after school program would be a wonderful and much-needed addition to our 8-3 curriculum.
Megan Faulk says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would continue to volunteer the local crisis pregnancy center as well as spend more time working with local homeless shelters.