*** 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.
Martha says
IKEA ME…I think I would do something around education and kids…
Amy S says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year creating an adolescent health education center, that focused a lot on healthy self esteem and body image
Kelley Rotharmel says
Ikea me!
If I had a year off to do whatever I could to help whoever I could, I would open a home for unwed mothers and their children. I would help these women not only through their pregnancies, but also on with their lives after the babies were born.
Lisa B says
IKEA ME
Ellyn Toneys says
IKEA Me!
I’d travel to another country and volunteer at an orphanage and somehow do something to improve the conditions for children waiting to be placed in adoption.
Amanda says
“IKEA Me!”
If I had the money I would start a program for kids that focuses on theater and music education. My daughter had the opportunity to be involved with the theatre at young age and it has made a huge difference in her self confidence and ability to work with all kinds of personalities.
Kevin M says
IKEA ME! I’d spend my year either teaching people about personal finance whether it be small workshops or seminars OR trying to get kids involved in DIY, maybe through shop classes or something like that.
Autumn says
IKEA ME!!!
Wow, my mind is racing thinking of all the things I would love to do with a full year to help others. I would love to help rebuild homes in places struck by natural disaster. Or volunteer at an orphanage. Or… makes me realize I need to take better advantage of the little spurts of time I have here and there. Thank you for the reminder.
Jenny B says
IKEA Me!!
I would love to work in a crisis pregnancy center, caring for women with unplanned pregnancies, providing education on pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children, providing for their basic needs, etc.
AshleyG says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help more of the world have access to clean drinking water.
ashley caudill says
IKEA ME!
This is a huge dream but i have always wanted to start a home for kids who are abandoned and give them a stable environment to grow up in.
Christine says
IKEA ME! :)
If I had one year to help others I would volunteer at different homeless shelters doing anything needed from me!
Courtney M says
IKEA ME!!
Not sure exactly what I would do, but it would involve some kind of fun place for sick children.
Tracy says
IKEA ME!
I would start an after-school program that gets kids interested in product and furniture design.
Leah says
IKEA ME!!!!
I think I would use it for an animal shelter. I just adopted a pup and I wish I could have taken all the animals home. It’s so sad.
Kate says
IKEA ME!
I just left the non-profit sector to serve others in a new way…teaching. I love literature and writing. If I had a year to help others, I’d create a community writing center. Writing is a means of self-discovery, and I would present a serene space (decked out in fab IKEA finds) where students could hone their writing skills, receive quality feedback, and find their voices.
Cheers,
Kate
LEB says
IKEA ME!
i would work on seriously cleaning up the polluted river near my home.
Kristen Vander Wal says
IKEA Me!!
I would spend the year starting child care programs for teen moms so they can finish school and get education on how to care for a baby. I know how hard it is as an adult, I can only imagine taking care of my children as a teen.
Bobbi says
Woot Woot! IKEA Me! If I had a year off, I would spend my time with at risk youth – young kids who have fallen off of the “grid”. I would tutor them, be there for them, talk to them – whatever I could do to help!!
pam in nc says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year in northern Pakistan working with CAI (Greg Mortenson ala Three Cups of Tea) helping to build schools or teaching or whatever I could do to help. When I win the lottery – you’ll find me there for sure!
Libby says
IKEA ME!!
I would be able to take one year off to live in Africa to start schools and rebuild communities.
Megan S says
IKEA ME! I would definitely work with children in low socio-economic situations. My finace is a teacher and he’s worked in several schools where kids don’t get the support they need at home. I’d love to have the time to work 1:1 with those kids to provide educational stability and supply any needed emotional stability as well.
Melissa Saunders says
“IKEA Me!”
If I had a year to assist in a program it would be helping people with mental illness get jobs. My mom has been looking for a job for over two years and I think it is a combo of age discrimination and her disability that is henderingthe process which makes things worst because she gets depressed which makes her need more medical care that she does not have. I now know why people are walking on the streets, homeless and talking to theirselves. Its very sad, especially if you do not have family to support you emotionally and financially.
Tiph says
Wow, how awesome!!
IKEA ME!!!!!!
I have a huge burden for the families of our military personal… so if I had a year, I would move by a major military base, and spend my time serving (in whatever way possible) the men, women & children who’s loved one is fighting for my freedom overseas.
mandi says
We need new countertops (I mean, ours are only 60 years old). IKEA ME!!!
What I would do for a whole year? I have 2 thoughts:
*travel the country with our already existing non-profit skateboarding ministry reaching out to skaters, putting on skate camps (ok- this is my husband’s domain) http://www.middlemanskateboards.com
*spend the year getting a central fresh food program in our town. I want a large garden, chickens and milk goats. The food would be given away in a sort of CSA fashion, but at no/low cost. This is my ultimate dream!!!
Laura says
Ikea me!!! Ok first let me say that I’ve known OF Ikea for a long time, but have never lived close enough to one to go. We just recently moved where there is one an hour away. our first weekend here I made sure we went. I’m obsessed!
Anyway– I would love to do something for kids– maybe start an afterschool theatre program for kids to help boost self-esteem. Theatre is what helped me through my adolescent/teen life and I’d like to share that with others.
Ruth says
IKEA ME!!
Theresa Boware says
Ikea Me- I would work with breast cancer patients and survivors just like my big sis.
Shanna S. says
IKEA ME!
Whatever I did, it would have something to do with shelter animals and getting the word out to spay and neuter.
Pam Redington says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer in a care center, helping those who are in for the short-term, rehab area. Many seniors have to spend time there and need even just someone to visit with them!
Efrutik says
“IKEA Me!”
That’s right IKEA and me are actually together daily. Whether it is on my lovely day bed, or my loveliest desk, or chair. Love my room with IKEA furniture that I built myself, which is exhilarating!
Ok, 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?
With the money, I would in rotation do all of the following mentioned activities for the first 6 months dedicating 3 months on each aspect (homeless shelters, orphanages, . Then for the remaining 6 month I would pursue exclusively mentoring/volunteering opportunities with girls and women who come from underprivileged backgrounds and or countries. Also in the beginning I would take a 3 weeks personal enrichment course or a committed activity through which I could pursue an opportunity to reconnect with myself in order to be inspired to help others later.
Jessica G. says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer at the women’s shelter. It’s three houses over from mine. I take our old clothes and baby stuff down there, but it would be nice to be more involved.
Becky S says
IKEA Me!!
I would help those who have been victims of abuse.
Lacey Vander Plaats says
IKEA ME! If I could take a year off, I would teach people how to grow their own foods, pesticide free and then how to use those fruits and veggies in healthy delicious meals. The art of home grown and home cooking has been lost in this fast food nation! Let’s bring it back!
Katie says
IKEA ME!
Gosh, I would really have to think about that one… but I would probably work in education in an impoverished country.
Emily Caltagirone says
IKEA Me!
I could really use a new TV stand!
If I had a year off, I would donate half my time to volunteering at the humane society, and half my time to volunteering at my local science museum. I couldn’t decide between my love of animals or science!
Katy says
IKEA Me!!!
I would get involved with programs that educate women in midwifery care and provide this sort of prenatal and labor support to communities lacking health resources.
Lora says
IKEA ME!
Love, love, love IKEA!!!
Carlee says
Ikea me!!!!
Chantelle P says
IKEA ME!!
I would do whatever I could to help in the fight against Neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers.
RIP Layla Grace <3
Alexis says
IKEA ME!
Nichole says
IKEA Me!
I just heard a story of a child who spent his first 7 years of life in an orphanage with no love and affection, so when he was finally adopted, he had an attachment disorder and couldn’t form a bond with his adoptive parents. It was heartbreaking. I would love to be able to help prevent that from happening to other children.
Katy B says
Ikea Me!
I would love to help women from shelters get a fresh start.
Jaime says
IKEA ME!!
I would create a mentoring program for at-risk youth.
katie says
IKEA ME!!!!
With 4 little ones, I can’t even imagine what I would do! I would love to do something that would include my children and give them a love of serving and helping others.
karen says
Ikea me!!
Teaching people in poverty to help themselves through relationship skills, business skills and financial skills as well as how to care for themselves and their families.
Liz H says
I would want to get involved with a program to help the homeless. I have a softspot for them.
Lydie says
IKEA me!
I would make a fruit-bus! I want to take an old school bus and turn it in to a roving farmer’s market…Yay!
Thanks for all the great giveaways…Lydie
Leslie C says
IKEA me, pretty please! I would volunteer at a food bank or a womens shelter.
Thanks for another great giveaway!
Leslie
Deborah Gosling says
Ikea me. If I could help others, I would put together a program that would help kids from a young age learn how to become involved in their community, become philanthropists in terms of their time and foster a sense of giving back. Then somehow tie it in so that by the time they graduate from high school they will have earned scholarships to college for their community service.