*** 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.
Katherine H says
Ikea ME!
I think I would work with low-income single parents to get them on the right path for them and their children. Unfortunately there are way too many people that fit into that category and struggle for basic needs.
Greg says
IKEA ME! I would use the money and the year off to work with Habitat for Humanity.
Melanie says
“IKEA Me!!”
Melanie says
“IKEA ME!”
I would spend the year working at the elephant orphanage in Nairobi.
Lizzy says
Ikea me!
I think I would focus on the neglected children and animals in my own city. It’s imperative that we teach all children to be empathetic; one way to do that is to encourage them to take care of, and respect animals. The shelters here need loving and gentle hands, and the animals as well of the children benefit by the time spent together.
Cathy says
IKEA ME! I’d love to work with an animal rescue organization.
Stefanie says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would love to work with children in third world countries….even if it meant just hugging them and letting them know that someone cares!
Marissa G. says
IKEA Me!!!!
I would probably do foster care or volunteer at a nursing home.
Sara Thomas says
IKEA Me!! Who couldn’t use an IKEA shopping trip?
If I had a year off I would love to go on a mission trip somewhere. I would also love to volunteer at the Pregnancy Care Center founded by my church.
Bri @ me you and a wiener says
IKEA Me!
Christina D says
IKEA ME!!!!! If I could take a year to do something to help others – I’d probably work with children in some way. Either through an after-school program/full-day program for younger kids or some other community-type program!
Krista P says
IKEA ME!
I spend a great deal of my time volunteering and have always dreamed of joining the Peace Corps and help to build communities! 2 years is just such a long commitment to move away from the hubby!
danielle moore says
IKEA ME!!!!
A whole year! I would love to work with an inner city social service agnency helping to revamp their services and provide more effective services for families and children at risk.
Cherish says
IKEA Me!
I would take a year to volunteer to help people learn about the bible. Once you understand the principles, and standards set out in it your entire life is made better, it touches all aspects of the problems facing mankind today.
Keresa E says
“IKEA Me!”
What a great idea! I would love to have an afterschool art program to help kids discover their creative side.
Jen H says
Ikea Me!
I have been itching to find the time to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. It takes several hours a month to do a good job for the children in the foster care system. So, between working full-time and having 2 elementary school children in activities, it’s just not possible right now :(
Katie says
Ikea Me!
If I had a years paid sabbatical, I would choose to go volunteer at The Phoenix Chilkdren’s Hospital. I’ve had to take my own children there and it just breaks my heart to see all those precious kids sitting alone.
Shannon says
Ikea Me!
I would probably volunteer my time with a local breast cancer awareness & support organization.
Jewel says
IKEA Me! I have just started volunteering for a new organization in my town that provides people in need all the resources that are available to them in our area. I have just found out that there is serious shortage of homeless shelters so I would want to help with that and start a new shelter or help expand an existing one.
Angela says
IKEA me!
I’d spend the year working for children who are being used as pawns in their parents’ bitter battles. Many times parents don’t realize (or, in some cases, care) about the damage that they can cause to their children’s mental well-being. I have watched this issue cause lots of turmoil and heartache in my husband’s family and I worry the child in question’s future because she means the world to me.
Whatever time and resources I had left I’d spend rescuing animals. :)
Jenn V. says
IKEA ME!
I like getting my hands dirty, so I would love going on a Mission Trip to Haiti or somewhere affected by natural disasters and help rebuild!
Brittany says
IKEA Me! Wow! I would help my friend get his event, Worn Again Richmond, turned into an actual non-profit organization. Go RVA!
Barbara says
Ikea me!!!!!!!!!
I would love to volunteer at an Animal no kill shelter and try to make a difference.
Claudia says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to work with children who are failing their classes, helping them after school so that they don’t just get passed along to the next grade but actually learn.
Susan says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year teaching people about financial literacy. It sounds boring, but there are so many people who could get back on their feet if they just knew the basics of how to manage their money.
Elise says
IKEA Me!!!
I would probably plant trees or volunteer at a no-kill shelter. Or somewhere working to restore lost habitat. I could pretty happily do that for a year.
Jackie says
IKEA ME!!
If I could take a year off to volunteer, I would go to the Philippines (where my parents are from) and work with Gawad Kalinga, a group that builds homes for Filipino families – similar to Habitat for Humanity. My husband and I volunteered with them for a couple weeks after we graduated from college and it was a great experience!
Jaye says
Ikea Me….My passion is animals. I am on my fourth Great Dane, all were from a rescue group. People don’t understand if they can’t take care of animal, they surely can’t take care of a child.
Sara T says
IKEA Me! If I had a year off I would like to go on a mission trip and also volunteer at the Pregnancy Care Center established by my church.
Kelly says
IKEA me!!!
I think I would like to do some disaster relief. I have done some before and loved it.
Kay says
IKEA me!!!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would start a non-profit in my small town to bring the arts back to the students here. I would love to start a performing arts studio, because I know how much the arts played a role in making me who I am- and I hate that so much of it has been taken out of our schools.
Samantha Rambo says
IKEA Me!
I recently joined the Junior League of Greenville, and I would support my provisional class’s project; Home Run for Healthy Kids. We teach children how to live healthy lifestyles and promote literacy.
Rosie says
Ikea me!
I’d volunteer at the pregnancy resource center near me!
Jim says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year off to help others, I would work at my neighborhood church.
Allison says
IKEA me!
I’m a high school teacher in inner-city Philadelphia…while I LOVE my students (most of the time), the other pressures of the job can be overwhelming…I’d love to take a year off from teaching to work on helping my students in other ways–exposing them to new experiences, involving them in service projects, helping prepare them for college…there is so much we need to work on that we don’t have time or resources for in the daily grind of the classroom!
Christa says
IKEA me! I would love to work with pregnant teens/single moms to help them get the support and resources they need.
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
I’ve always been interested in adult literacy programs, i.e. helping adults learn to read. I also would like to help out at an animal shelter, although I would probably be tempted to take all the cats home with me.
DanielleN says
IKEA Me!
It’s so hard to choose. But would definitely have to do with getting more housing for the homeless in my area (especially families). We are maxed out on space and are only able to give 2/3 of the people who need it – and I would love to change that.
Also, I know the drawing is rando – but I just moved into my first solo apartment and it could use some serious ikea-sprucing! here’s to fate… :)
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
Having worked at a vet’s office when I was growing up, I would love to work with rescued animals and give them comfort and love while they’re waiting for a new home.
CM Walsh says
IKEA ME!
I would love to become a foster parent.
Amy Lipski says
IKEA Me!!!
I would love to work with teen parents to help them get on the right track. I had my oldest at the age of 19 and knew right away that I had to take this as a challenge. I knew that I couldn’t become what people expected me to become. In fact I think that made me an even better Mom. I see so many thinking they have just had their futures ripped away and give up. I would love to help teen parents realize their dreams and become adults with goals and dreams.
I would also love to work with Teens that have Down syndrome. You see so many great programs for schools where kids get so much help but a lot of it seems to stop in the late teen area. Such a crucial time for them to become normal, high functioning adults! I think they need more programs and support than they get.
Kim says
IKEA Me!! I would want to help run an orphanage in a third world country!
Jen says
IKEA Me!
I’d start a senior center in our hometown!
Tara Geissinger says
IKEA ME!!!
I would support CROW — a wildlife rehabilitation clinic on Sanibel, Florida. They do amazing things with injured wildlife. :)
Laura says
IKEA ME.
Ashley says
Ikea Me!
I would start a pet rehabilitation program for abused animals :)
Kirsten says
IKEA ME!
For the next year, being Haiti has now come into a Cholera epidemic after the earthquake tragedy, I would no double spend the next year getting the people there clean water along with sanitary living conditions. It’s heartbreaking to watch those children dying just from the water their drinking.
Great give-away, and great question, THANKS!
Kelly D says
Ikea Me!
I would either help out homeless animals or work with the foster parent organization in our community. Or maybe both!
TexanNewYorker says
IKEA me!
I’d love to take a year off to go around knocking on doors and asking, “How can I help?” Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes; I think it would be interesting and spontaneous and fun just to see people’s reactions. Can I weed your garden? Babysit your kids for a night? Help you create a family budget? Clean out your attic? Mop the kitchen floors? Change the oil in your car? The possibilities are endless!
Hilary says
IKEA ME! For the past few months my husband has been telling me how we should quit our jobs and travel for a year or so and enjoy this world we live in! We would love to travel around the world and help out missionaries, support orphanages, and spread the love of Jesus! Oh and the IKEA giftcard would be awesome too since we are in the process of buying our first house!