*** 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…
******************************
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.
Cassidy M. says
ikea me
Meredith Gardner says
IKEA me! I would love to start or assist with an after-school program that helped kids/teens develop life skills as well as opportunities to learn job trades. My city has one of the largest concentrations of low-income children, and an extra educational boost would help break the cycle.
Melissa says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year helping needy families, especially kiddos. Everybody deserves a helping hand, wouldn’t it be awesome if you could be the person to offer your hand? AMAZING!
Christie says
IKEA Me!!!
If I took a year off to help others, I would spend the time volunteering in the low performing schools here in the Washington D.C. area. I would love to help make a difference in kids lives and show them how beneficial a good education is and that someone cares about them.
Mary Sue says
IKEA Me!
I would probably become involved in an urban renewal art project or teach horseback riding lessons to those who can’t afford it.
Christina says
IKEA me! If I had a year to spend doing volunteer work I would split the time between two charities. The first, a non-profit called P:ear in Portland, OR that helps homeless and at-risk youth. I would love to do a series of craft classes with the kids. Another organization I would work with is a no kill animal shelter called Family Dogs, New Life. I adopted a wonderful dog from them that they had rescued the day he was to be euthanized at the county shelter.
Laura says
IKEA ME!
I would work full time for a program where I currently volunteer. It provides tutoring, athletic, and extra-curricular activities to middle school girls and boys to keep them busy in the afternoon. If they are busy studying, running, and learning, they are less likely to get in trouble!
Jennifer says
“IKEA ME!!!”, please :)
If I could take off for a year and be taken care of, I would totally give back to the elderly. They are the ones that made us all who we are today, so I would spend some time with my Grandmother, of course, and then find nursing homes that needed a young 28 year old to help out with their programs. I mean they have given so much to each of us to make us what we are today, why wouldn’t I want to give back?!?!
Sarah @ Comfort and Joy says
IKEA ME!
I would like to assist people who are living in subsidized and low-income housing improve their living environments.
Leila says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to help with orphanages!
Arielle says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend time working in an orphanage overseas.
Alison says
IKEA ME! I would teach English overseas.
Michelle says
IKEA ME!! please, with a cherry on top. :)
If I could take a year off I would start an animal rescue. I am such a tender heart for all of the sweet homeless animals. Even if I couldn’t take a year off I would still help them the same way I do now by adopting them. :)
Jennie says
IKEA me!
A whole year helping others? Maybe starting a catering business that provides parties or dinners to families with family members in the hospital.
carolyn~~ says
Ikea Me!!!
It is all about the animals for me! After becomign a new rescue puppy mom this year I would like to help out the little guys who can’t help themselves!!!
Nicole Elyse says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to be able to volunteer/initate programs to prevent bullying in schools
Stephanie says
IKEA Me!
I would love to take a year to help out the mentally disabled with low-incomes and minimal services. Help them with everyday needs, but also create fun programs for them to enjoy – art workshops, exercise outings, day trips, etc.
Hope says
Ikea me!
I would probably do something involving animals/ animal shelters, as I already volunteer at the local animal shelter and love it.
Rachel says
IKEA ME!!
I would open up a center for kids who have no one to go home to after school.
Allison says
IKEA ME!!!
If i could have a year off, i would go back to the school i use to work at in Argentina that taught english to kids. Since English is the international trade language it is getting harder and harder for them to get jobs without also knowing english.
Kate says
IKEA ME!!
If I could take a year off, I would work with my sorority’s philanthropy – Cardiac Care, and raise money and awareness for Women’s Heart Disease! I’m sure I could also find some time to raise funds for animal shelters too – so that no beloved pet ever has to get put down.
Side Note… I just purchased 3 pairs of curtains from Ikea and experienced my first iron-on hemming adventure!!
julia says
Ikea me! I would love to be able to spend a year in the gulf coast with Habitat for Humanity.
Krista says
Ikea me! My husband and I recently learned about the Life Improvement Project and are actually considering applying for it. We have a dream of providing safe drinking water to families living in poverty in Guatemala. A few months ago we returned from 2 years living there where we began the baby steps toward our dream. We learned that as foreigners it takes a long time (often years) to gain the trust and respect of the people, something that we hope we accomplished during our time there. Winning the money would be an amazing way to kick start this “one day” dream into our near futures.
Sara C. says
IKEA ME!
I think I would like to help at animal rescues.
Audra Garlich says
IKEA ME!!! Oh goodness, how I would love this! :)
I would love to volunteer helping to play with, love on, and pray with children cancer patients or other children with terminal diseases. They are so precious to me!
Karen says
Ikea Me!
I would want to use the money to help people with HIV in my area. The local agency concerning HIV closed due to financial issues, so this is a grossly underserved population where I live. I’d try to provide counseling, case management, and prevention/education.
judi says
IKEA ME!
i’d love to work with a women’s shelter, teaching computer and work skills so that women could get jobs.
Kathryn says
IKEA ME!!!
I’ve always wanted to travel, so if I could take a year off to help others I think I’d like to go to Africa and help with relief efforts in places that need it most.
spring says
IKEA ME!
Two of my daughters have learning problems, one of them pretty severe. I’d want to help locally with literacy programs.
sonya says
IKEA ME!
I think I’d want to spend my year working with Habitat for Humaity or some sort of program that helps the less fortunate realize the American dream of having a home of your own.
Meg says
“IKEA Me”
I would spend the year teaching in an underprivileged area
Nicole says
Ikea Me!
I would start an animal rescue sanctuary… lots of land for dogs that need special training in order to be adoptable.
Laura Reyes says
IKEA ME!!!
My passion is to start a non profit organization that will help the homeless, animal abuse and child abuse. I would love to make a different for those 3 areas and fight for those that cannot fight for themselves!
Jade Cook says
IKEA ME!! I would do something for young pregnant girls. Figure out ways to help them get on their feet and find a healthy support system.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I already am a stay at home mom, so taking a year off would require hiring a nanny:) However, if I did work outside the home I would love to donate my time to training parents in need of parenting skills, particularly single and/or teen moms.
Melissa says
IKEA me… I currently work at a non-profit school and would continue working there but for free.
Holly Berg says
IKEA ME!
One year off…I’d head back to South Africa and join one of the clinics in the cape townships educating women about protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS and empowering them to say NO. It’s a beautiful country being torn apart by a horrible disease and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since the day I left there.
tricia dickinson says
ikea me! a year helping others, hmmm… teaching people to read. it opens up so many possibilities, and worlds.
Amanda says
Ikea me! If I had the funding to make a difference for a year, I would open a free day care for parents who need to work or even go back to school, but can’t afford to hire someone appropriate to watch their kiddos.
In an economy like this, we need to lean on each other to get where we’re happiest.
Amanda Sanborn says
Ikea Me!
I would definitely take a year off to help out in any way I could with Pancreatic Cancer research and fundraisers. I had someone who was like a second mom to me pass away last year from it and it is such a devastating thing to watch.
Amy Wolff says
IKEA ME!!!
I would help start vegetable gardens for all the elementary schools in town. Not only teaching them how to grow their own food, but also how to cook it!
Hannah says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!!
Courtney says
IKEA ME! =)
If I could spend one year helping others, I would open a Women’s Clinic and spend that year ministering to other women about the alternatives to abortion. I am living with the consequences to the choice that I made, and I would do anything to help other women who are in the same situation that I was in.
hannahE says
ikea me!!!!!
woohoo!!
Kari Weber says
Ikea me please!
I would love a year to help orphanages. It breaks my heart to see the neglected and unloved babies. I would love to help them in any way I could.
Stacey Sanford says
IKEA ME!!
I’d use a year to help out the local library. They do so much for the community, but with the limited rescources, they are having to start cutting back on some of our beloved programs. To be able to help it grow and give back to the place who took me (and nearly 300 people a DAY!!!) in when I needed it- that would be paying it forward.
Ashley says
IKEA ME!
How I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this one. Just this morning my hubby and I decided the for Christmas we are going to do up our boys bedroom. This Ikea Gift Certificate would sure make things easy!! AND FREE!!!!
Here’s hopin’ with crossed fingers.
If I could take a year off I would volunteer at orphanages in any foreign country. Specifically places like Africa or China, where so many children need arms holding them.
Amanda W says
IKEA ME!!!!! I need a new rug and new chairs for our living room so badly!
I think if I were to take a year off, I’d do one of two things: (The less adventurous option)I’d volunteer with my church doing various and sundry things, working with the youth, senior nutrition program, women’s ministry, Threads of Love. I could be involved with so many of these things.
(The more adventurous option) I’d go on a mission trip to Peru.
Frank says
“IKEA Me!”
I would help my wife, a NP, open a free clinic in our community.
Vicki J says
IKEA ME!!
Not sure what I would do–but it seems to me that between working with Rescue animals and helping families to get out of shelters and into homes I could keep busy for a year!