*** 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.
JLS says
IKEA Me!
I would work to help disadvantaged kids find a way to attend college :)
Cheree says
Ikea Me!
If I could take one year, I think I would help with a program in my city called Friday’s Kids. It helps parents with disabled kiddos get a much deserved break one night a week. I would like to expand it. Also, I would love to be able to adopt a dog from a shelter!
Caitlin says
IKEA Me!
I would use the $100,000 to expand upon a local family program that I currently volunteer for. It’s a Family Network that provides parenting classes and support, as well as educational playgroups for kids, and it’s all offered completely free of charge to local residents. It’s an amazing program with so much potential, all they need is some more volunteers and some more funding….
Alicia B. says
IKEA Me!
Frances says
IKEA Me! I would run children’s activities programs to promote healthy activity and nutritional education. Physical health affects all aspects of life!
Amy Baker says
IKEA ME!! not sure exactly what… but it would be something with children.
KESM says
IKEA Me!
I would take a year to teach inner-city kids (especially girls) website development. Its a great way to encourage kids to be excited about math & science, as well as a fantastic future career path!
Alicia B. says
Greyhound rescue would be wonderful, I would love to rescue all animals in need though.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
I would love to go back to an orphanage in India and help teach kids that I had the privilege of visiting 5 years ago.
Kim says
Ikea Me!
Not sure what exactly I would do but it would definitely be something with kids.
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would do work with various children’s or senior groups.
Janelle says
Ikea Me!
I would work hard on a farm-to-school program for our local schools, and along the way help with educating parents/kids on how to eat for health. Mmmmm, Veggies!
Paul lafata says
iKEA me! I would like to help out habitat for humanity to help get a roof over deserving families heads!
Kristin says
IKEA ME! If I could spend a year helping people, I would finally the Red Cross Disaster Relief training I’ve been working on. I’d be ready to travel if/when natural disasters strike!
Kelly Lewis says
“IKEA ME!”
My husband and I are photographers so we would probably invest or start an organization where families with terminally ill cancer patients could get free family portraits done.
Jill says
IKEA ME!
We are purchasing a “new to us” house in 2 weeks that needs a little tlc. A gift card to IKEA would come in handy!
I have a dear friend that beat Thyroid cancer. She’s been cancer free for a little over a year. If I had a year, I’d start a non-profit to raise awareness for thyroid cancer.
CaitStClair says
IKEA ME!
A whole year?! Although for that amount, I could easily take two. I don’t even know… Heifer is one of my favorite charities so maybe something with them? Either that or Water.
Jeff says
IKEA Me!
I’d work with the Boys & Girls Club.
Cate says
IKEA ME!!! If I could take one year, my family and I would go and serve orphans and Sugar Babies in Haiti.
Christen says
Ikea me! If I could take a year off, I would volunteer for my favorite Local charites- the Heifer Project and The Call. The Heifer project feeds the world’s hungry, and The Call trains foster and adoptive parents for Arkansas DHS.
Rachel S says
IKEA ME!!!
I would give my husband a year off work, since he is the breadwinner and we would volunteer our time full-time in Bible education. We already do it part-time, but it would be wonderful to do it even more. The Bible is the best thing for really changing everyone’s life for the better. Thanks for the giveaway!
Heather Thomasson says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could spend a year helping others I would probably volunteer at “To Write Love On Her Arms” or the “It Gets Better” foundation. I grew up in a very abusive home and unfortunately I ended up cutting myself for over 2 years. I would work for an organization to talk to teens and children who are going through what I did and show them that physically hurting yourself isn’t the answer…that they aren’t alone and one day they will see just how amazing the world is and people out there love them for who they are.
KLP says
Ikea Me
I would run a diaper drive. “It’s sad to think that while some of us are worrying about which playgroup to join or applying for elite preschools, some moms are worrying about being able to afford diapers for their babies.”
Melissa says
IKEA ME!!!
With a year to help others, I’d participate in Meals on Wheels. It’s such a blessing to have something ready to eat when you’re going through a hard time. This service would combine my new found love for cooking with giving a hot meal to those who need one. Perfect.
Meredith says
IKEA ME! It would be so hard to choose what to do, but I think it would definitely involve traveling internationally and helping impoverished kids – maybe to India or somewhere in Africa!
Nicole says
IKEA ME!
I would help at any program that works with adult literacy.
Britt says
IKEA ME!!!
Julie says
IKEA Me! For one year, I would help children, definitely. Would like to work with an after-school program in some way!
Robin says
IKEA Me!
Being a stay-at-home mom I don’t know if I could take a year off. :) But I would love to get more involved in our community with programs geared towards supporting young mothers.
Laura in LA says
Ikea me! I would love to start and animal shelter in my town where there is not currently one. I would also look for some way to help support the elderly that are so often overlooked.
Jessica Sturm says
IKEA Me!
I am taking a year off to help others, actually.
I’m working at Nourishing NYC. Nourishing NYC was opened in 2008 to address feeble nutrition, poor health and hunger—large issues facing the poverty-stricken East Harlem community in New York City. PLEASE VOTE FOR US!!!
http://www.stayclassy.org/classy-awards
we’re up for charity of the year and our director, Gina Keatley, is up for volunteer of the year.
Mark says
Ikea me!
I would help build houses with Habitat for Humanity.
Rachal H says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!
Sarah says
“IKEA Me!” I have a couple of things I’d do if I have an entire year to help others. First would be to open a place where kids could come after school to paint, draw, or doing anything else that is creative and fun. Also, I’d volunteer at a local Humane Society. I’ve always wished I had more time to go walk dogs and help out.
Danielle says
“IKEA Me!”
I would like to help a humane society
Briar says
IKEA Me!
I would like to start volunteering at a local Greyhound adoption center. I plan on spending a little more time there every month from now on!
Elizabeth says
Ikea me…I would love to spend that year working with Habitat for Humanity, contributing to someones needs with my own two hands would be so rewarding.
Kate says
oh won’t you please, Ikea Me.
I am interested in volunteer work helping out our senior community.
Mary in AZ says
IKEA Me! I stay at home with my little one and have several friends who work and spend a crazy amount of their income on day-care… I would be happy to offer free day-care for a year!
Joie says
IKEA ME.
If I had the money (I already have the land), I’d start a no-kill rescue shelter for all size dogs and cats. The overpopulation of strays is booming in my area and the local rescue can’t keep up.
Jessica E. says
IKEA Me!
I would definitely open a no kill animal rescue facility.
Jana says
IKEA ME!!! OMG! I could use a couple of dining chairs!
If I had 100K to help others I think I would want to start a mentoring program for foster kids who are transitioning out of the system. Somewhere where they could access help and resources for continuing onto higher education, and also get emotional support.
Lelhani says
Ikea and Me go way back in our love affair! J’Adore!!
Jenny Wenzel says
Oh please IKEA ME!!! The closet IKEA is 6 hours away from where I live…I have to go everytime I am near one and stock up on lovely swedish things!!! Seriously they rock!
One thing I am in the process of starting is a childrens library at our local hospital for NICU parents to read to their babies…as it helps the babies thrive!
Kate @ Savour Fare says
Ikea me!
I’d like to set up a program to teach cooking in local public schools — so many life skills are being lost right now.
Melinda says
IKEA Me!
living eventfully says
Ikea me!
I would have a home that would act as immediate safe house for sex trafficking victims.
Nissa says
Ikea Me!
I think I would do work with the meals on wheels program or our local nursing home. Have worked with both in the past and really enjoyed it.
Barbara Gartz says
Ikea me!!!
I would definitely work towards bettering education in third world countries.
I hope I win!!! I’ve got a hot wooden countertop on mind for a while now!
Melissa says
Ikea Me!
I would spend a year helping out with a local animal rescue, hopefully as an adoption counselor.