*** 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.
Laura says
IKEA ME. I would like to work with disadvantaged kiddos and animals for a year. Since I make less than that per year, I could keep what I need to take a year off and then give the rest to those in need in Wisco. Aweseomeness!
tracylee says
IKEA ME PLEASE!
:D
I’d help out the greyhound adoption group where I got my dog or go on one of those trips to work with Heifer International
Alyssa Womack says
IKEA ME!!!
I would continue to support Blood:Water Mission, the non-profit I work for that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.
Emily says
Ikea Me!
I was reading down through the ideas, and I would love to start a program for first time home buyers about creating a space that is personal and organized, all at the same time. Many people move into their house, and just unpack everything as fast as they can, wherever they can. Moving should be an experience that simplifies your life. If you put it off till later, you really never have time to go back and fix it without giving up something else. I’d love to see a program to teach people what needs to be unpacked first, what can wait, how to utilize space, and what are the most important things for first time owners to have saved away for reference.
Teri Z says
IKEA ME! Oh pretty, pretty please pick me!
I’ve always wanted to go on one of those Medical Mission trips, except I am not in the medical field. I want to go to comfort and hold hands, makes sure everyone is emotionally taken care of and nonmedical needs are met.
So, I would take my family and travel to third world countries and visit clinics and hospitals (we’d probably pick where we’d go before hand so we spend time in each place,) and provide support.
adrianiux says
IKEA Me!
dixie says
Ikea Me! I would rescue animals and advocate for pit bulls and other maligned breeds.
Jessica says
IKEA ME!!!
I would go around Detroit and help the families that don’t have much money and give them food, clothes, etc.
Betsey says
IKEA Me!
I’d volunteer at a children’s hospital.
Megan says
IKEA Me!
I volunteer at the local animal shelter already, so I think I would continue to help rescue animals!
Jenny says
IKEA ME! Animals are a passion of my husband and I so without a doubt we would be working with them in some fashion.
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!!!
Would love to do like a Teach for America type organization for the year!
freya says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!
I would love to work with underprivileged youth in local or global.
jen says
IKEA Me
Homeless individuals are very near and dear to this gal’s heart. I have had some situations within my immediate family that have left me with a special understanding for those in need. I have always dreamed of creating a safe haven shelter for those without home… until that day, lending a helping hand at shelters is how I would spend all my spare volunteering time.
xoxo,
Jen
Rebecca says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year assisting my local food bank. Many people, particularly children, go hungry every day, and help is needed to support local food banks not just during the holidays but year round!
Jenna says
IKEA Me!
I’d travel to South America!
Diana says
Ikea me! I would love to work with kids to get them more inovlved and interested in their own educations! It’s so easy to get them excited about it young, and it really helps them to stick with it!
Meg says
IKEA Me!
I used to live in Russia, and a friend helps run an orphanage there – I think I’d go back and help her with the orphanage!
Andrea says
IKEA me! I’d love to spend a year in South Africa setting up an orphanage. I even already know the place that needs one desperately! I could also use the gift card on my desperately-needs-help-apartment renovations. IKEA me!
Janna says
IKEA ME PLEASE!
I would take a year to go to Africa and work in an orphanage. Its always been a dream of mine!
Michelle Moran says
Ikea Me – pretty please!
Aaron says
IKEA ME!
Honestly I would probably work with the homeless. I’ve had rough patches in my life where I just needed someone to listen and then give me that sustained push to get things back together and would love to help others out in that way.
Marc Scarpato says
Ikea Me :)
Holly says
IKEA me!! I would definately take the year to work with homeless and at risk mothers and their kids – I donate money to some local causes along those lines but with work and raising my family I can’t really give much in the way of time, but would love to.
Shannon K says
IKEA Me!
You nailed it. I would work my butt off at the local SPCA helping rescue animals.
Lindsay says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year rescuing shelter doggies and training them to be service dogs. Then, if money was no object, I would gift them to the appropriate service organizations to be matched with owners in need of their skills.
Jen@FIRR-Kids! says
IKEA Me! and if I could spend one year helping others, it would definitely be at the local animal shelters. With the economy tanking, more and more animals are being surrendered. Poor little guys.
Hillary says
IKEA ME! I would take the time to volunteer in my capitol city for government related activities. I think I would also have to travel to a developing country to help out to really appreciate how good we have it in the US of A.
Robyn says
“IKEA Me!”
Melissa says
IKEA Me! If I could spend one year helping others, I would work on raising food donations for soup kitchens and homeless shelters. I served at a soup kitchen for the first time a few weeks ago and it was eye opening. We served over 400 people in a two hour time frame! It is important that such shelters have sufficient food to feed families in need on a daily basis.
Teisha says
IKEA ME! pretty please
I would probably volunteer at a homeless shelter or something to that effect.
sophia says
IKEA ME
Courtney B says
IKEA ME!
I would go to haiti with my brother, who will soon graduate from bible school, and help serve those in need!
Amanda G. says
IKEA ME!!! <–please :)
If I could spend a year volunteering, I would like to do something for more than one organization. I think it would be great to spend two-three months at time volunteering at different locations. Possibly starting the first two months with building green homes for those effected by natural disasters like Katrina or the Haiti Earthquake, then I would move on to help food shelters all over the country raise money and food to help those in need. Then I would spend time with women and children who have been abused and do whatever I can to get them out of those situations. My last few months, I would like to join the Peace Corps and volunteering in other countries helping them have clean water and getting them shoes and clothing. There are so many needs out there, if everyone could volunteer and learn to love and respect each other, the world would be a much better place.
Brenda says
IKEA ME!
I would love to start up an after school program in my area for children of working parents.
Carter says
IKEA ME!
Ashley says
IKEA ME! I would LOVE to volunteer my time with children…maybe helping out in orphanages or after school programs. I’m sure I would want to bring home every child!
Allison O. says
IKEA ME!
I’ve always wanted to be able to create a doggie-adoption paradise, so that I could adopt shelter dogs by the dozen and give them a wonderful forever home. I would use the money to set up a farm and hire a staff of dog-lovers to take care of the pups and play with them all day, every day (dream job!).
Kathy says
IKEA ME! If I had that kind of money, I would support either a local or overseas orphanage and love on those babies!
Stacy Carlisle says
IKEA ME! I would spend my year of philanthropic bliss (!) rescuing animals and helping to make an impact on animal cruelty and abuse. So, pick me, pick me! :)
Sarah says
Ikea me!
I would love to support literacy and job training programs in urban areas.
Livier says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help out my community by starting a recycling program.
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the time helping rescue animals and finding them homes.
Rita says
Ikea Me PLEASE!!! I would work with special ed kids!
Sara says
Ikea me!!! I’d take the year off to do something to help kids- I’m not sure what I’d do exactly, but I know it would involve loving on kids who don’t have families.
Lara says
IKEA ME! Since it is common knowledge that pets provide many health benefits to their owners besides just companionship. I would love to either start my own or work with an existing animal rescue program to provide assistance to senior citizens to be able to own a pet for companionship without having to worry about how they would get their pet to the vets, or for grooming, low-cost vaccinations and food so they could afford to properly own one on a fixed income and most importantly know that there would be someone (or the organization) that would care for their pet if they should die or otherwise become unable to care for their pet.
Erin York says
IKEA ME!!
With a year, I would love to work with animals who need love and homes. I am a teacher by calling already, but I have a passion for animals as well. Three of our four animals are rescues, and life just wouldn’t be complete without them.
Juliene F says
Ikea me! =)
I would start a non-profit dedicated to helping young women realize their dreams (career and otherwise!)
Lauren says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help animals and help people who have fallen on hard times.
Tina says
IKEA ME!
I would help out in the community by having food drives to benefit less fortunate families.