*** 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.
Kristen says
IKEA Me!
If I could take a year off to help others, I think I would open a animal sanctuary, for all the animals that are unwanted.
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I would love to be able to remodel/rehab houses in my hometown and give them to families in need.
Steve W. says
Ikea Me! I'[d love to be able to help the under and unemployed learn the computer skills necessary to get ahead in the work place.
D. Martinez says
IKEA ME!
I would help in my community by volunteering my time to educate low income families regarding child development.
Nina says
IKEA ME. I love Ikea, as a matter of fact I live about a mile away from one and my house looks a lot like IKEA store :)
I have a dream of opening a daycare for the little ones. Kids will start learning foreign languages from the early age, learn to sing and be involved in theater plays, paint and do all sorts of creative/development activities in social environment while their parents enjoy spare hours for work/rest.
Iris Brown says
IKEA ME! Love your blog! This is my first time commenting ever. I also love IKEA so it was the perfect impetus for me to comment. I would like to volunteer in our church food program named Angel Food Ministries, and work in the food shelves here locally. Food shortages due to economic times has hit us hard here in MN. Thank you!
Nicole B. says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend one year helping others, I think I would be a missionary, though I’m not sure where. Maybe Africa? I would like to be able to tell others how much God loves them. :)
Mari-an says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!
I would start a day care program for single moms,that were currectly enrolled in school. Many times the state orgaizations will help low income families with day care costs if the parents have jobs. But I think it is even more important to help single moms that are trying to further their education and want to live a better life.
Britni says
IKEA ME! PLEASE! I would work with underprivileged children!
heather says
ikea me!!!!
i would love to volunteer in an animal shelter for a year. i would have to make a pact with myself that i would not adopt any though, because we have a full house already!
Nancy V says
IKEA ME! Half my stuff is from Ikea!
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year bringing art programs to schools in my area. We live in a military community, and our campuses have cut art programs (they still offer music at the elementary school level, but actual visual art class). I believe it would only benefit these children to learn creative ways to express themselves and deal with the hardships of being a part of a military family.
Miranda G says
Ikea Me!!!
Wow, what a tough question… I would have to do something with children, maybe setup a program working with at risk kids, teaching them about photography. Setup a project where they document their life through pictures.
Nicole Dehlin-Grant says
OMG IKEA ME! My in-laws are coming over for thanksgiving and I need pretties!
Elizabeth says
Ikea Me!!
I would for sure want to help out with an adoption agency or a animal protective league!
Adrea says
IKEA ME, please :) If I could donate my time for year, I would work with Habitat for Humanity, I think having shelter and a home is such a basic part of life. It’s a great organization and I would love to help.
Jeane says
IKEA ME!
Ashley says
IKEA ME!!! Since $100,000 is more than 3 times my salary a year I would take off 3 years and volunteer my time to organizations working with autistic children. I just started my job 9 months ago, right out of college and already regret not doing something more meaningful. This would give me the opportunity to re-think my current career and see whether a career working with autistic children is really what I should be doing!
Katryna Robinson says
Ikea Me!!!
I would love to spend a year helping out in Haiti (I spent half of my life there)! Or helping out in Africa…. Or anywhere! Thanks guys you are amazing!
melissa says
heck yeah, IKEA ME!
Tiffany says
IKEA ME!
If I had the opportunity I’d travel the world and help children in need!
Erin says
Ikea me!
I would help out at animal shelters.
Eva C. says
“IKEA ME!!” With one year and 100,000, I would love to start a non-profit that assists elderly citizens with navigating through the healthcare process and financing medication. The reality is that there are many with limited income that need someone to listen without any motives. Someones gotta do it!!
sarah says
IKEA Me! I would help teach foreign languages.
maggie says
IKEA ME! Since we are going the ‘no kids’ route, my husband and I are thinking about mentoring a child or possibly getting our foster care license.
tabitha armstrong says
IKEA ME! I would go straight to Kenya and serve the wonderful people there…I am really into empowerment programs that teach individuals skills or assist individuals in marketing and earning a living from previous skills.
kim says
IKEA ME!! (I LOVE Ikea. LOVE.)
Our family has done a lot of volunteer work over the years, including working at the SPCA and a food bank and clothing closet. I would love to help the homeless for a year.
michelle says
IKEA Me!
If I could devote an entire year to volunteering, I’d love to work with kids or the elderly.
christina says
IKEA Me!!! If i could spend a year helping others, i would like to travel to different childrens hospiatals and help in anyway i can, collect blanket toys, etc. Just give them company.
Ashley Lewis says
IKEA ME!
Wow…having a little person has completely changed my outlook on the world. If I were able to do something so wonderful as to take a year to give to someone else it would definitely be spent fighting child hunger and homelessness. It would be beyond words.
Charity says
IKEA ME!!
Love this giveaway!!I would love to help abused and neglected animals, maybe volunteer at the SPCA.
Katie says
IKEA ME!!!
I would spend the year working for a non-profit church camp. How could it get better than working in the outdoors with kids spreading love, faith, and silliness?
Amy in Lake Tahoe says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping improve the schools in our country. There are some schools out there that are not even structurally sound and children must go there because there isn’t anywhere else for them to go!
Kristin says
Ikea me!
I would definitely open some kind of after-school center here in Rochester, with a focus on literacy. It is much needed in these parts!
Erica says
IKEA ME! I’d love to do something like animal rescue, or go help clean up the gulf oil spill.
Christine says
IKEA ME!!!
I would spend that year rehabbing homes and yards for low-income families.
Matt Snow says
IKEA Me!
I would want to go work with Johnny at HackersForCharity.org. wth a wife and baby on the way though i’m not sure how that would jive.
Alternatively I would help under privileged youth and teach computer science (networking, programming, web stuff, etc..) in and around the bay area.
campblsoupgrl says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others I would probably start an after school program tudoring kids in the classes they need help with the most. The public schools are going downhill and kids need all the help they can get.
JessieBelle says
IKEA ME!
Anne says
IKEA ME!!
I would help build houses in New Orleans.
Jessica (Goodbye, Small Heart) says
IKEA ME! I would like to teach people how to eat healthfully. Especially people who are low-income, super-busy, or live in areas where fresh, quality food may be harder to come by.
Kristina says
Ikea me!! I would work in a free medical clinic.
Jenn Sloat says
IKEA ME! I would spend the year nursing abused/neglected animals back to health and finding them new homes! It breaks my heart to see animals get lost in the everyday shuffle – they have needs/feelings too! I wish I had the time/money to work with these precious beings – but for now I can only love the ones I have (2 crazy felines and a nutty Boston Terrier) and help out when I can.
Kim says
IKEA ME!!
I would do volunteer work with various children’s groups and animal rescues. I love kitties and kiddos!
jennifer says
IKEA ME!!!!
I’ve worked with at-risk kids/disadvantaged kids for 5 plus years and I love it! If I could, I would LOVE to send some of these kids to college. It would be so wonderful to give them that hope!
Marlene Brady says
IKEA Me! I would teach something creative to kids or maybe seniors. Creating can save your soul.
SRBK says
Ikea me me me! :)
I would love to work with local grassroots women empowerment organizations in Asia for a year. It’s always the small organizations that have the greatest impact and it has been proven.. that supporting women is the first step in increasing sustainability and economic empowerment!
Courtney says
IKEA ME! :)
Amy says
IKEA ME!
I would love to take a year off and volunteer with local kids programs.
Keith says
Ikea Me!
I would help with an animal rescue.