*** 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.
Alison says
Ikea me please.
I would start a community garden to grow all sorts of edibles for the community.
Dana says
IKEA ME!!
If I had a year off, I would spend my time working with dog rescues. I am currently a volunteer and the VP of a Golden Retriever Rescue in Maryland, and if I had the ability to work with even more breed rescues, shelters, and humane societies, I’d be very very happy!! :)
Lyndsey Holcombe says
IKEA ME!
misty t. says
IKEA ME!!!
Tracee says
IKEA ME!!
Wow, if I had a whole year to help others….it would definately be amazing. I am not entirely sure what I would do but I certainly have a passion for it. At my company, I am in charge of volunteer opportunities for distance education students and alumni and I could definatly think of a few necessary opportunities!
Meghann says
IKEA Me!
I would spend some time in Guatemala with the mission group that I have gone with before. It is called Salud y Paz (Health and Peace) and builds medical clinics in rural areas.
grant says
Ikea ME, please!!!
crystal barnes says
IKEA me!
If I had a whole year to help out, I’d finally be able to volunteer with animal rescue organizations. I have a complete zoo at my house and wish we could take in “just one more” all the time, but it’s not feasible right now. With a whole year, I would try and see how many animals I could help get adopted and see what fundraisers could be held locally to help raise money for the less fortunate ones left in the cages day in and day out.
Katie says
IKEA ME!
I would work on raising awareness for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Leah Bushey says
IKEA ME!!
I would take a year off from my teaching job (I teach kindergarten) only to return to my school and make myself available all day as a resource for teachers! I would pull out at-risk kids for tutoring or just for extra TLC, make teachers’ copies, grade their papers, or anything else that would make the school run more smoothly!
kd says
ikea me!!
i would spend time babysitting, cooking meals, doing laundry, and cleaning homes for hardworking moms and dads that need a little break from the wonderful job of raising children!
Margie M says
“IKEA Me!”
Sara says
IKEA ME, please!
Serina says
IKEA me!
I’ve always thought about a celebrity clothing outreach program. I know it sounds a tad superficial compared to volunteering for education or rebuilding a tragedy-stricken country, but it is something that I have thought about for at least 15 years or so. I believe there are a lot of “more fortunate” people out there that have wardrobes full of clothing that have only been worn once that would love to be able to help out less fortunate high-school aged and twenty or thirty something aged adults trying to make it in the world by supplying them with a nicer wardrobe to help boost self-confidence and help further themselves in the everyday people working world.
AdamC says
IKEA Me!
Melissa Neslen says
IKEA Me!!
I would start an afternoon healthy kids program. I also liked someones comment on taking that money and buying health insurance for small business owners and employees of small businesses who don’t/can’t provide health insurance for their employees!
My husband and I both fall into that category and individual plans are outrageous.
Erin says
Ikea Me!
Doug says
“IKEA Me!”
emily b says
IKEA ME
I would rent an apartment in a inner city community where tens of thousands of refugees live. It would be a place where women can come and use their skills from their country to make clothes and crafts, and sell them in local shops to provide the women some income. It would achieve several goals: learning english, having a hobby, and making a small income. All three desperately needed in refugee communities in the U.S.
Allison says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!
Laura says
Ikea me!
I’d work at an HIV clinic.
Tracy says
IKEA ME!
I love Ikea. I’ve driven 3 hours just to shop there and head home with a car full!
I would take the money and help young, underprivileged mothers with breastfeeding teaching. I am a certified lactation counselor and an RN in a NICU so in one sense I am able to reach some of this population, but in general I feel that there is a huge lack of education in this area before mothers reach the hospital. With a free program in some of our poorer neighborhoods mothers would receive the tools to get their babies started with the best (and free!) nutrition possible.
Christina Marie says
IKEA ME!
I would love to get involved in urban sustainable community gardens, rooftop gardens and teaching people to eat locally. Reducing the carbon footprint is so important and eating healthy, local food would help everyone’s waistline out here in fried food country.
Susan says
IKEA Me!!!!
Annalisa says
IKEA ME!
I would love to have a year to work with local urban youth and help them with healthy eating habits (and local food) and exercise. Healthy kids are happy kids!
Anne says
IKEA ME! and I will finally be able to get a new desk for my mom cave :)
If I had a year to help people, I would volunteer at the local Ronald McDonald house and help families who have sick children. It would be amazing to wake up everyday knowing that you are going to positively impact someone’s life.
Ruthie says
Ikea ME! I would love to start a technology club for girls in a low income area of Chicago, to teach them about computer programming and digital storytelling while building on their computer skills.
Meredith says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off I would want to do something with kids, teaching them about good nutrition. Or help illiterate adults learn how to read.
Allie says
IKEA Me!
Dawn says
IKEA me! I would use the funds to start an urban gardening community that could provide vegetables and fruits, using soil and crop rotation, for local sale.
Kelly says
IKEA me!!!!!!!!!!!! I would volunteer with an after school program for middle school kids. They seem to be in between child care and being able to stay home alone.
Bees says
IKEA ME
Rachel Wester says
IKEA me!
If I could take a year off, I would volunteer with organizations that help veterans, whether it be with counseling, housing, or acclamating back into life after coming home from deployment.
Justine Wicks says
Ikea me:)
If i had an entire year to devote to others, I would go to Ghana West Africa. I have some friends there who work as missionaries. I would definitely like to work at an orphanage there someday,even if just for a summer.
Christina says
Ikea me!
I’m a researcher, so with the time and money I’d definitely want to do studies I couldn’t otherwise afford to do. I’d love to travel to third world countries and work there for a year.
Alice says
IKEA me!!
I would probably use the money to help public libraries expand their collections, as well as provide computers for community access.
Troy says
IKEA ME!!!
Angela C says
Ikea Me!
Leslie Berckes says
Ikea Me!
Definitely saving the animals since I have a major soft spot for homeless animals. And then mix in saving the environment and I would be happy.
Hilary says
IKEA ME!!
If I had a year to volunteer I would want to help homeless families with children find job and home placements.
Nicole says
IKEA Me! I would love to volunteer in Mozambique for a year with a non-profit there that helps people get out of poverty.
Sara says
IKEA me, pretty please!!
If I had a year to make a difference, I’d love to work for Habitat for Humanity. I think it’s an incredible organization and would teach me invaluable skills. I love the idea of their resale centers, both from an environmental perspective, as well as providing an affordable option for deserving families. Best of all, it’s an organization that I don’t have to have a full year off to help support. There are plenty of weekend projects that I can take part in, right in my community or around the country.
Jessica says
IKEA-MOI!
I am super interested in housing for the poor and displaced. I am also very much into sustainable architecture as well as art made from les objets trouvés… combine these things, and you have Dan Phillips’ houses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Std5taGTP6I&feature=related
I would take the year to study and apprentice with Dan and start a similar program here in Denton.
Liz says
IKEA ME!!!
kelly ann says
IKEA MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
I would take that cash and buy a state of the art theater for an inner-city high school. I’d start an after school improv troupe and tour the city performing. Laughter and confidence are a deadly duo, sure to break the hardest of hearts!
susan says
Ikea Me!!
I would work with kids with developmental delays, autism, sensory integration and would be able to offer families assistance on a sliding scale.
Amy H. says
IKEA Me!
If I had an entire year to dedicate to helping others, I would volunteer in communities that are overun with feral cats. I would set up TNR programs (trap – neuter – release)to give these animals better quality of life.
Cindy says
“IKEA Me”
If I had a year to spend helping others, I would volunteer a lot more time at my kids school. There just never seems to be enough time.”
Sheela says
IKEA ME! I would focus on developing a program to help those who are hungry (especially children) in our community. Times are tough now, and even the Foodbank can’t keep up sometimes.
Faith says
IKEA ME!!! This would be amazing! I would use the year to start up my own non-profit empowering students in low-income neighborhoods to successfully graduate from high school and get into four year colleges and universities!