*** 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.
Tar says
Ikea Me! I would love to help with habitat for humanity or with the animal shelter.
Karen says
IKEA ME!!
I would use the money to start a crisis pregnancy house where women in need could get the support, supplies and care during and after their pregnancies.
Stephanie F says
Ikea Me! I would love to give animals a permanent and temporary place to go when needed- with the economy and job loss and relocations, wouldn’t it be nice to give animals a place to stay while their owners get back on their feet!
kristin fulghum says
ikea me!!
Jamie says
Ikea Me! I would definitely aim my services at mentoring children- be it coaching, helping with school, or just being a “big-sister” type role model.
Heather Johnson says
IKEA ME!
I would devote my time to helping under-privileged children. We feel so fortunate to have 4 beautiful happy kids and it breaks my heart to hear about kids who don’t have a family or basic necessities.
Taryn W. says
IKEA ME! If I had the time I’d love to work with Habitat for Humanity. I always thought it looked so fun and they help so many people!
Shiri says
IKEA Me!
I would work to help rescue dogs from high kill shelters.
Ruby Showalter says
Ikea me!!! If I received the giveaway I’d travel to Africa & India and work with the orphans and help out wherever needed!
kate davis says
Ikea me! (please!)
I would go through good canine citizen training with our adopted rescue dog so we could travel to nursing homes and bring smiles and cheer to the residents. I think pets speak a universal language of happiness and acceptance that we all understand, and love. (I’m also completely in love with our dog. I admit it!)
Lisa says
IKEA ME! I’d love to teach in a city school if I had a year “off”…
Sheena says
IKEA ME! I’d love to travel around the world and work in orphanages or help continue Mother Teresa’s work in India!
Rachel says
IKEA me!
With one year I would spend my days volunteering at theater and arts organizations with kids and teenagers, teaching, leading workshops, making art, and hanging out with them. Ah, what a dream!
Sarah says
IKEA ME! I would love helping out in urban food deserts (places with no easy access to grocery stores). Community involvement, garden plots, and education are greatly needed.
Melissa C. says
IKEA Me!!
Amy says
IKEA ME…
I think I would work with teenage mothers. Having two young kids myself with a supportive husband is hard enough, can’t imagine having done it in my teens.
Amanda says
IKEA Me!!!
Annie says
IKEA me!
I can’t decide what I would do, but I do know 2 things – it would involve helping children and I would get my own children involved, even at their young ages.
Jen p says
ikea Me!!!
I would do orphan care work abroad in China
Jackie Smith says
IKEA me! I’m a teacher and I would get a sub, take my yearly salary and use it to set up a real kitchen/cafe for my school with REAL food, a salad bar and classical music playing!
Chelsea says
Ikea Me!! I would volunteer at a children’s hospital!
Melanie Roberts says
IKEA Me!
As soon as I read your description of the project, I’m not seriously considering going and entering the project. Because I would totally do something to help rescue dogs (& other household pets, but someone else would have to handle cats or bunnies b/c I’m too allergic). I just finished reading “The Lost Dogs” about the Michael Vick dogs and the people they talked about that helped rehabilitate those dogs were so inspiring.
Jo says
IKEA ME! Wow I’d have to think about that one, but definitely something with kids. My husband made a job transition a few years ago to work with kids and with 3 kids of our own we’d love to all be in it together!
AshinMT says
Ikea Me!!!
I have been trying to convince my bf that we should road trip it to NOLA and volunteer for a year, get some bs jobs to accomidate income etc… but just go submerse ourselves in the rebuilding of that place.
He is not totally on board yet.
Jill says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at an animal shelter or somewhere involving animals.
Elisa says
IKEA ME!
I would love to coordinate a city wide volunteer pool and match them up with volunteer opportunities. There are so many people willing to volunteer but they don’t know how/when/where.
Abby says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year developing a non-profit while working in various volunteer capacities.
Kelly Woodfin says
IKEA me! (please?)
If I had a year off to do volunteer work, I would want to continue working with young children, but expand to teach self-esteem, confidence building and other life skills to older children as well. I think kids (not toddlers, not teenagers) often get missed, and by the time they’re teenagers it’s often too late to instill the foundational skills they need to survive and thrive in a (too) adult world. Wouldn’t it be nice!
heather says
Ikea Me Please!!!!!
Jen Bishop says
Ikea Me! Anything to do with helping children!
Leticia says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would work with children. I would travel 12 different countries around the world and spend one month in each of them in support of children. Whether it would be teaching a math class or helping gather basic necessities or building a school, I would love to do it.
DorisD says
IKEA MEEEE
I would mentor a child in my local elementary school.
Tiffany N says
IKEA me!!
I would spend my year helping our local Childrens group, the kids who don’t really have anyone to look up to or to entertain them & take them on outings. I think it’d be a great way to introduce my little one to community helping.
Ken says
“Ikea Me!” This is a great giveaway!!
Alycia says
Ikea Me! I would help out with shelter animals. They are just too sweet and innocent not to.
Jen says
IKEA ME!! I would love to rescue animals, or volunteer at a nursing home to bring the spirits up of the patients there.
Rachel says
Ikea Me!
I would love to spend a year creating a program that provides books to underprivileged kids.
Michele says
IKEA Me!……I would love to work volunteer with Dress for Sucess for a year
Anne Kerestesi says
IKEA ME! I would love to start a non-profit and travel with myself and volunteers to help in countries that have been affected by these horrible natural disasters. I think it would be fascinating and so rewarding, and they need our help!
Katy says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off to volunteer… I would volunteer in my church… helping with the soup kitchen, helping watch children in the nursery, setting up for Sunday, cleaning, etc.
shannon says
IKEA Me!!
I would love to volunteer at a Ronald McDonald house, and other children’s organizations for a year. They are the future of America!
Thao says
IKEA Me!
I’d teach kids how to paint!
Christina Schneider says
Ikea MEEEEEE (pretty please)!!!!
If I could spend one year of my life helping others it would be through the Girls Leadership Institute.
HR says
IKEA ME!!! I’d love to take a year off and make a documentary about alot of people out of work during the recession. I’ve never made a movie, but the idea of documenting history, giving the weak a voice, and traveling all at the same time would be AMAZING.
Chelsa Payne says
IKEA ME!!!
If I win the money I will help the non profit burro rescue that my mother in law started. She’s helped rehabilitate hundreds of animals from terrible living conditions to loving families! I would love to be able to help her financially and physically!
tim says
I would build people awesome furniture.
Anya says
IKEA ME!
I would work with an organization that helps refugees from places like Sudan, who have been forced to flee their homes, countries, and often their families.
Melanie says
Whoops. I reread mine. I mean I AM seriously considering going and signing up. I’ve got an idea for something and am going to see if I can put something good enough together tonight!
Jacqueline Varela says
Ikea Me!
I would like to help needy families.
Nicole says
IKEA ME!!!!
Love helping children, I would definitely do something that pertains to children!!