*** 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.
Rebekah says
IKEA ME!
Well, considering my husband and I are in the adoption process- I would spend a year focusing on helping other adoptive families bring home babies, and/or working with orphanages, foster homes/families…
becca says
ikea me!
my husband and i would start a non-profit art program – teaching kids drawing, painting, etc…
Meg M says
IKEA Me!!
Liz S. says
Ikea ME!
Robin says
IKEA me!
Kelly Kohlhaas says
IKEA ME
i would teach personal finance courses for free.
allison b says
Ikea Me!
I would probably take another trip to India to work with Visthar, and NGO to help them with womens, children’s and dalit issues in Southern India
Lindsay says
IKEA Me! I would work on an afterschool program for under priviledged children! Something that would combine the arts and fitness.
Meghan says
IKEA ME!!!
I would volunteer at a pregnancy crisis center.
Megs says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!
If I had a year to help others I would design outdoor camps geared towards kids ages. It would be a way to keep them active and learn about the environment, plants, bugs, ecosystems and the life around us. It would encorporate games and outdoor activities including hiking, climbing, riding, swimming, kayaking etc.
Leigh Anne says
IKEA ME!!
My passion is animals, and I volunteer at the Animal Care Society, a no-kill shelter in my hometown. It would be an extremely hard year of work with them and spreading the mantra of “spaying and neutering your pets” a la Bob Barker, but I can’t imagine anything more personally gratifying.
Wendy MI says
Oh goodness, Ikea me!
I would spend my year getting involved in the Detroit school system, getting involved with programs that develop healthier after school programs for the children. So many of these kids are from single parent homes where the parent just doesn’t have the TIME to give their children’s education the attention it deserves. Illiteracy begets illiteracy, and it’s more often than not not intentional. The DPS needs people willing to devote time and attention, without concern for a big paycheck, and this kind of sabbatical would do wonders.
It just starts with one person.
Jamie says
Ikea me!
I’d volunteer at the library. Those gals do so much to help out all of us, that I’d like to give back to them, plus, you get to see all of your neighbors!
Johnna says
IKEA ME!!!! I could use this in SO many ways!
If I could sepnd a year helping others I would want to have an after school LIKE program for older kids (middle school – freshmen) so that they wouldn’t go home and create trouble in their neighborhoods or engage in questionable behaviors while unsuperivsed at home.
Jennifer says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping people find jobs and training them in skills they would need.
Kelsi G. says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer in the orphanages and just hold the children in my arms and let them know that they are loved.
Molly says
IKEA ME!
I would love to do something with Kosiar Childrens Hospital. I have a friend with a little boy that is going through Chemo and other horrible things a child should never have to go through. I want to help kids get/feel better. Period.
Crystal says
IKEA Me!
I would love to be able to help children who have been abused or neglected to find an artistic outlet.
Rebecca says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer at Habitat for Humanity to learn some new skills and help people at the same time.
Cheryl says
IKEA Me!
I would do something to help our troops overseas or help the spouses and children of our troops.
Emily Kidd says
IKEA ME!
I would work in an orphanage and love on some kiddos!
Yulia says
IKEA Me!!!
I would love to become a part of Heifer International!
amanda says
IKEA ME
I’d spend a year helping the less fortunate get a second chance.
Jennifer says
Ikea Me!
I’d run a green building workshop program. Hands on learning for the betterment of the community.
Hope says
IKEA Me!
I would choose to start a non-profit organization that provides educational schlarships to young girls who would otherwise not attend school. (Read more about this in the highly inspirational book titled “Half the Sky”.)
Ashlee says
IKEA ME!
Something to bring better nutrition information/availability to everyone.
Monika says
IKEA Me! I would spend my time volunteering with animals and elderly, preferably combining the two in some way.
Cory Christie says
Ikea me!
I’d help people who are looking to get out of poverty find a job and get back on track!
Tara says
IKEA Me!
I would spend time helping those in poverty in the Appalachian area – one of the poorest regions in the US.
Meghan B. says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to do mission work or, if I stayed in the US, I would like to work with a literacy program.
Jenn says
IKEA Me!
I would work to provide books for children from low income homes.
Christina says
IKEA Me!
I would help out in a domestic violence shelter – the women and the kids.
jessica says
IKEA Me!
i would focus on improving education!
Carolyn H. says
“IKEA Me!” … This’d require some thought, but I’d like to work outside of the United States. I’d probably do something related to making comfortable spaces for people (since it’s Ikea funding), maybe in Haiti.
amanda says
IKEA ME!
If I could, I would spend a year helping the youth in my community, many of whom are in high-risk living situations. We have a high teen pregnancy rate, and a high teen homelessness rate, and very few resources to deal with either problem.
Rachael says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!
I would spend a year driving around the United States performing anonymous acts of kindness.
Liv says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off I’d love to spend it teaching Yoga to those who may not otherwise have an opportunity to try it. I once did an 8-week series of free Yoga in my community and it was a wonderful way to bond with other Yogis and celebrate our bodies. Plus at the end of the 8 weeks we had a big huge brunch that was delicious!
Meggan says
IKEA me! I would spend the year working with animal shelters.
Beth Meyer says
IKEA ME!
I would love to take a year to help people. I have a short attention span, so would probably need to mix it up every few months….with a focus on animals and children!
Sarah Mc says
IKEA me!
I would spend a year working with illiterate youth and adults. There are far too many people who fall the cracks and are pushed along in school with no or poor reading and writing skills.
John B says
IKEA Me!
I’d like to help at an after-school program for young kids developing their reading skills.
Caroline Hull says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the year creating and implementing arts programs in low-income schools that have had to do away with arts due to budget constraints. I think the arts are so important!!!
Marissa T. says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year working in orphanages in Africa.
monica says
IKEA me…
I saw a television piece about an organization that drills wells for villages without access to clean water….I would love to be a part of that.
Amber says
“IKEA Me!”
I would love to foster animals, but I dont want to appear on “Animal Hoarders”, so I will just continue to donate money to the ASPCA.
Sheena says
IKEA ME!!!
If I could financially afford it, my dream would be to open a home for teenage girls who are either pregnant or have small children. I think we set them up for failure and I would love to have the opportunity to show them how to attain a better life for themselves and their children!!
Chantel says
“IKEA ME!”
I Would go to Africa and help out in a refugee camp.
Debbie says
IKEA ME!
I would love to have a day care to help out single moms who are trying to get their lives ontrack by working or going to school.
Beth in Utah says
“IKEA Me!”
An after-school program helping kids is right up my alley.
Vanessa says
IKEA me!
I would raise money for school supplies for children whose families and teachers cannot afford to pay for them out of their own pockets.