*** 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.
Megan Metcalf says
IKEA Me!
I would take the opportunity to volunteer at Chemawa Indian School (Salem, Oregon), mentoring and teaching students.
Bri says
Ikea Me!
In college I volunteered at a Women’s Shelter and Assistance Program called Warren Village. Its a housing and education program designed for single moms in an effort to help them learn job and domestic skills. Its always been close to my heart since the good ol college days so I would be absolutely honored to go back and support them full time.
Andrea says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend a year helping others I would train my miniature schnauzer, Gus, to be a hospital dog and bring a little cheer to people and kids who need it.
Rebekah says
IKEA ME!
I’m not sure what I’d do, but I’d look forward to doing it!
Brian says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to win this!
Kati says
IKEA ME!
I would open up my own free health clinic in rural NC!
Kim W says
Ikea Me!
If I had the opportunity to have a year to give back, I would love to work with families adjusting to life with a newborn, especially moms battling post-partum depression. There is still too much stigma around mental health issues, particulary with post-partum depression and if I could make a small difference, it would change my life and hopefully the lives of others.
Emma says
IKEA me! I would teach English to young people in Latin America. First time commenting — love your website!
Stacey H says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d volunteer with a pediatric cancer organization/non-profit.
Tana says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year I would work with orphaned children in the U.S.
Tara says
IKEA me, please!
Shirley says
Ikea Me!
I would start an organization that helps adults to lose weight and feel better about themselves because there are so many people that are unhappy with the way they look but have no idea where to start or what to do.
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
I’d volunteer with our local children’s home, Epworth.
Jamie says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help people become more savvy financially. How to avoid credit cards, saving for retirement, enjoying life on a budget kind of thing… My parents set a great example for me and I would love to help others who did not have the same upbringing.
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would absolutely spend the year volunteering with local humane societies (the Richmond SPCA is fantastic… I would love to make the one here more like Richmond!!)
Courtney says
IKEA Me!
I love IKEA and wish there was one by where I live.
Rachael B. says
IKEA ME!
Would continue our rescue efforts of English Bull Terriers and would expand outside of our breed with our Know Your Breeder program – designed to educate individuals about the purchase of animals from breeders and their impact on animal control, rescue organizations and the community when they acquire and dump animals that aren’t the right fit for them. Starting from the ground up with animal adoption by educating the public. Visit http://www.btcdallas.com and see our video.
Bird says
IKEA ME! If I had a year off, I would start a non-profit spinning and piates studio for women from low-income neighborhoods.
Brittany H. says
IKEA ME!
I would work at my local animal shelter to help rescue animals.
Betty Jo says
“IKEA Me!”
I would volunteer to help with inner city at-risk youth and refugee families in Charlotte, NC where my son and family have moved to work with these kids.
Leslie says
IKEA me!
I would start a non profit to teach people in the South Pacific marketable skills to help them as they emigrate, in preparation of the loss of their islands, due to climate change.
Savannah Wallace says
IKEA MEE!!!!!!
I would put together a personal development program for high school and college students to understand how to handle their finances, understand their strengths/passions, develop a personal life mission statement, write a resume, and help them to confidently go out into the world.
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely spend my year in Africa!
Amy says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at our church’s backpack for kids program!
Paula says
IKEA Me!!! AWESOME giveaway! Thanks!!1
I would do a mix of volunteering things, I think. I have several different causes/issue areas that I’m passionate about and I would use this as an opportunity to give back to these causes!
Christina says
Ikea Me and my New Fiance!!! Yay!! I love the idea of paying someone sabbatical for a year to go help a cause! There are so many I’d love to do but no clue where to start! I’d love to work with Girls on the Run which is a program that helps young girls with their body image! As a teen I remember having a horrible outlook on my body image so helping girls overcome that would be so self rewarding! I may never want to go back to work!
Robin O says
IKEA Me!
Wow. A whole year just to help people! I would spend the year serving full-time in my church doing whatever was needed.
Deb says
IKEA ME !!! I care for the mentally dis-abled ,one lives with me ,so it takes every spare moment just for a little diy for relaxixing .
Amber says
IKEA Me!
I would (somehow) help young girls learn how to love their bodies and be happy with who they are.
Danielle says
IKEA me! If I had a year to help others, I would either help children in a third world country where they have little resources, or help build homes for people who have lost them in natural disasters.
Cheryle says
IKEA Me! (Ahem, Ikea rocks) :)
I would try to find homes for as many shelter dogs/cats as possible by taking some seriously cute pro photos of them. I’d then canvas the neighborhoods with those pics via internet and footwork to find their matching family. I would be relentless! I’d also make animal calendars and take custom dog or cat portraits, selling the calendars and my services to cover the expenses of adoption/spay and neuter/shots for the neediest families.
Nestor says
Ikea me!
If I had a year, I would help poor families in South America.
Brittany says
IKEA ME!
It’s hard to pick just one, but I would somehow work with underprivileged girls/boys to encourage them to stay in school and think about college.
Megan Mc says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year doing Teach for America!
Jessica says
IKEA me! :-)
My husband and I would like to start a home for single women/girls and their babies for the first year of the baby’s life. There are some great maternity homes out there, but after the baby is born these girls struggle to “make it in the real world”, and we would love to give them a leg up!
Rebecca says
IKEA ME!
If I had a free year to make a difference, I would definetely throw myself totally into a mentoring program for underprivleged kids. I work in a low income school and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do everything I would like to do.
erin says
IKEA me!
I would love to start an elementary school, after school arts program someday. I think it’s so important to have arts available to all children. I would want to offer classes to children who come from families who can’t afford to pay for extracurricular activities.
Britten says
IKEA Me!
I would get involved in one of our local programs that helps the elderly maintain their homes so they can afford to remain at home as long as possible.
Yezenia says
IKEA ME!!!
If I had a year off and $100,000 in order to keep my house while not having an income, I’d resume being active on my old high school’s alum board. It’s a (poor) all-girls Catholic school that whose enrollment is way down d/t the economy and it provides the opportunity for girls who don’t have many viable options for a quality education in that area. This sabbatical would be two-fold for me. I work as a pediatric nurse with children with chronic and sometimes terminal illnesses. After having been my sister’s caregiver for almost 2 years and having lost her to stomach cancer, I am ready for some time off from that field. I think it would serve to help me go back to nursing refreshed.
Something like this would be a dream come true for me.
Kerry says
IKEA ME!!!!
If I had a year to volunteer helping others, I would definitely work with animals in some way. Perhaps would with dogs and cats that are going to be destroyed due to aggressive personalities….you know help them trust humans and get them adopted to good homes. :)
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
Our town could really use a good after school program, I think that would be at the top of my list.
Katie says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend the year right here in our local community, helping families with their projects, using the DIY skills we’ve learned over the years to help complete people’s ideas that they just haven’t either had the a) time for b)finances for c) tools d) DIY drive? ;)
Alison says
Ikea me! I’d love to spend a year visiting elderly veterans in nursing homes. I love to hear their stories and they are so thankful to have people to talk to!
Autumn says
IKEA ME! (I need a couch)
I would spend a year voluntering on a national level with projects to combat child exploitation and obsecenity.
Jessica Rasemont says
“IKEA ME!” I would take the year to fly my family down to the Dominican Republic to work with World Vision. We sponsor a sweet little 2 year old girl down there. I would love to meet her and help do improvements in her little village!
Mariah Williams says
Ikea Me!
Rebekah says
IKEA ME!
I would probably work with children.
Todd Rasemont says
Ikea Me!! I would open up a transitional housing facility for men in the Tampa Bay Area!
Brittany says
IKEA ME!
I would do something hands-on, like work with children to encourage them to stay in school and think about college.
Mina says
Ikea Me!I would love to help out at a soup kitchen for a year!