*** 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.
Lindsey T says
IKEA ME!! Oh, how I love Ikea, we go there when we’re bored, which is usually not a good idea! :)
amanda t. says
Ikea me!
After helping my parents recover from a terrible house fire, I would start a fire education program to teach home owners and renters what to do to prevent losing everything. Making backup copies of important documents, photos, etc using online servers, packing an emergency bag to grab quickly if the fire happens overnight, among other things I wish I knew before my parents lost everything. I’d also lobby for stricter home inspections and gas companies to take more responsibility for gas explosions.
MalloryD says
Ikea me.
I’d start work at one of the pregnancy counseling/crisis centers in my area, learning how they’re organized and run… do fundraisers to buy ultrasound machines, etc.
Carrie says
IKEA ME! (I am obsessed with their storage solutions….) And if I had a year off to help others, I would spend it visiting with kids at places like Children’s National Medical Center here in DC, where the volunteers play, read, and do whatever they can to make the kids’ time in the hospital a little more fun.
Bryn says
IKEA Me!
I would help terminally ill people live out their dreams.
Amy says
Ikea me!
I would probably help rescue animals, especially abused dogs :(
Jen says
Ikea Me!!!!
It’s hard to sit here and say that I would want to spend one year doing only “one” amazing thing to help people or animals. It’s hard to pick just one. I would love to help childen in foster care find a permanent home with a loving and caring family to give them the support they need through out their lives. It’s something most of us take for granted, but so many young children and teenagers are lost in this world with no one to turn to and that breaks my heart. Either that, or I would absolutely love to go out and help find abused animals, nurse them to health and find loving homes for them.
Ashley says
IKEA Me!
I would dedicate my time and money to helping kids who are victims of bullying. It’s important for them not to feel alone and know it’s okay to be themselves.
Lauren says
IKEA me!
I’d spend a year traveling, doing mission work. In the states, though. There is so much that needs to be done here.
Bridgette says
“IKEA Me!” I would be blessed to help save elephants in the wild.
Darnetha says
Ikea Me!!!!!!
There are so many ways I would love to help! I have been obsessing over homeless concerns and cancer and helping individuals after disasters like fires and floods.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to volunteer, I’d probably choose to work in hospice care. It seems like a deeply meaningful and life changing endeavor.
Laurie H. says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off, I would love to work with those who find themselves homeless or hungry through not only feeding and helping to find shelter, but also clothing and setting working with mentors/sponsors to lend a hand getting individuals a path to re-entry into the job market and stability in their life. While I could choose almost anywhere in the world to do this, I would start in our own area in SF Bay area.
Heather S. says
“Ikea Me!”. I am a nurse, and if I had a year sabbatical to help others I would travel to disaster areas and help rovided medical care.
Maggie says
IKEA ME!
Jennifer P. says
IKEA Me! Hands down, I’d volunteer at our local no-kill animal shelter down the street.
Shanan says
Ikea Me!
Corey says
Ikea me!!!! I really want to join Teach for America, but they don’t have any positions in KY and I can’t afford to move right now. If I won $100,000 to do whatever (good) for a year, I would definitely try to get a position with TFA – or something similar.
Katie says
IKEA Me!! If I could take a year off I would love to travel to Africa and help in an orphanage!
Anna says
IKEA Me!
I would definitely volunteer at the humane society, and probably at the art museum as well, along with possibly the homeless shelter. It would be really cool to go overseas to help people though.
Bindu says
Ikea Me! I would love to start a microloan bank catering to women in south India (where I am from).
kristin m. says
ikea me!
i’ve always wanted to participate in a project with habitat for humanity.
Karyn says
IKEA ME…
My husband and I would help those less fortunate through our church center with daily bread and canned food.
Dana G says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year building homes for Habitat or help the American Cancer Society. Often, people that find out they have cancer have family members, especially children, that don’t understand cancer. I would spend that time helping them deal with those issues that they face.
Courtney says
IKEA ME! If I could spend one year helping others, it would be teaching English as a second language to people trying to better their life.
Jeanie says
IKEA ME!
I’d use the time and money helping out non-profit animal hospital and rescue organizations.
MaryZ says
IKEA ME!!!
we are getting ready to move and will need some new furniture for the new place!
Katie says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!!!
Colleen says
IKEA ME! IKEA ME! IKEA ME!(pretty please with a cherry on top)
I already volunteer/tutor at a center for under privilaged children, with work and a little one on the way it would be nice if I could somehow dedicate more time towards that cause!
Bindu says
IKEA Me!!
I would start a microloan bank focused on providing funds to women in South India (where my family is from).
Kim says
“IKEA Me!”
I’d take a year off to go to Africa and help bring safe drinking water to villages in need.
Kristy says
Ikea me! I’d want to work at an orphange…oh wow..the comment above me is the same, too funny.
Emily M. says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at a school with children with Special Needs. I have a younger brother who has Autism. Even though he is unable to verbally communicate with others he is one of my best friends. He has the sweetest personality ever and I love him so much. I can’t even imagine what life must be like without the ability to communicate with others and let them know when you are happy or frustrated. I have been away from home now for a couple of years and try to volunteer with different organizations involving those with Special Needs because it makes me feel like I am closer to my brother even though we live so far away from each other.
Michelle C says
IKEA ME!
Since I already work at a non-profit that provides nutritious food for hungry people in our state, I would love to help my next passion: animals. Many of our local no-kill shelters are suffering in this economy, and they help so many homeless pets. I would love to give one of them a jumpstart and help them along for a year.
val says
IKEA ME!
I’d work with refugees in the parts of the world which are in conflict; helping them find permanent homes, jobs, lost family members, etc.
crystal says
nutritional food for the hungry
cs white says
Ikea me, please!
If I had a year to give, I’d volunteer – probably at a mix of places. Something environmentally-oriented and somewhere that helps people who are having a hard time. I know that’s pretty vague, but that’s all I’ve got at the moment!
Circusliz says
IKEA Me!
Manda clancy says
Ikea me svp!!!
I’m a French teacher… Have always wanted to go to West Africa and work with teachers there… find a sister school for my students too!
Susan says
IKEA Me!!
Rachel says
IKEA ME! I would help to end abortion.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!!
With the $100,000 I would donate it to the dEBra fund for kids like Jonah and Tripp. They need all the help they can get to find a cure for EB!
Amy says
IKEA me!
I’d love to spend the time developing a program to get kids physically active and educate them about nutrition.
Meredith K A says
IKEA Me!
I’m not sure what I’d do, but it would probably involve at-risk kids and an after-school program with tutoring and homework help, but also a fun element with crafts and games.
Emilie says
IKEA ME!
Callie says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to help out Habitat for Humanity for a year! Think of all of the houses we could build in a year!?
Christine Schermerhorn says
Ikea me!!! If I could take a year off, I would spend time mentoring high school girls. I would teach them about self respect and how to deal with the world.
Rach says
IKEA ME!
Kathy says
IKEA me! I would love to spend a year fostering animals in need – the ones that need 24 hour care and attention. Can’t do that and work full time!
benay says
IKEA me!
I’d volunteer my services as a child and family therapist at a non-profit counseling agency.