*** 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.
Carolyn says
I think I’d like to work with new moms who just think they can’t do it. I know I loved those early years, but they were rough, too. I think I could offer some insight and help to new moms at the end of their rope.
Carrie says
IKEA ME!
I would build a homeless shelter. Our town doesn’t have one. :(
Do you READ all these comments? :)
Kelly says
IKEA ME! I would volunteer in a literacy program.
Kim says
IKEA ME… please. :)
I’m torn between children and animals. Love them both and ideally would like to do something to help both. :)
Heather says
IKEA MEEEEEE!!!!!
I would be on the next plane to Africa (probably the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda)to feed some people and help create sustainable incomes and run a little clinic!!! Dream come true!
Leslie says
IKEA ME!! If I had a year off to volunteer, I think I would keep it local…volunteer with my church, work at the food bank, walk the dogs at the SPCA, help at the school, clean up neighborhoods or paint houses….whatever different things I could do to help out my community.
mary says
Ikea me! please!!
I would volunteer with terminally ill adults, I feel their demographic is lacking of people willing to help.
Heather says
IKEA me please!!!!!!
I would love to go around helping families who are in need and get them connected to resources so they can get on their feet.
Kristin says
Ikea Me. I would spend a year helping unemployed individuals develop skills to re-enter employment.
Amy Leigh says
IKEA ME!!!!!!
I teach head start and I would love spending a year helping hurting, young parents get back on their feet!
Kim says
IKEA ME!
I will love the opportunity to volunteer at St. Luke’s Hospice in South Africa, where my mother-in-law is currently receiving care. The hospice is operated strictly on volunteer and donations, and I would love to give back. Thank you!
Andrea Schember says
IKEA ME! I would take a year to teach families receiving government aid how to plan meals, make grocery lists, grocery shop to get the most “bang for the buck,” and actually cook healthy, affordable, family-friendly meals at home for their families. I enjoy cooking for my family and would love to help others discover that cooking isn’t difficult, it just takes a little planning and time, but the rewards of a home-cooked meal are worth it every time!
Tiffany says
Ikea Me!!!
I <3 Ikea.
With a year to devote to charitable projects, I'd work with one of the charities in Atlanta that work to get underaged prostitutes off the streets and back into stable homes and schools.
LJP says
ikea me.
i would like to work with teen mothers.
Erika M says
IKEA Me!
I found out about an organization that fixes medical devices/hospital equipment in South America and Africa – that would be my “dream volunteering job.”
Carly says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to do something helping children with special needs or taking care of mistreated/neglected animals and helping them find homes.
AshleyB says
IKEA ME!!! I would spend a year helping build homes for people who lost theirs. I would also love to volunteer helping sick children and animals.
Jenna S. D. says
IKEA Me!
Ideally I’d like to spend my time volunteering in association with children’s rights as well as working for Habitat for Humanity; why stop at one when you can do more?
Veronique Conus says
IKEA ME!
I love our veterans. I was fortunate enough to meet WWII D-Day landing vets in France 5 years ago. It changed my life. I would do everything and anything to ensure that the years and courage they gave to us wasn’t for nothing. Love me some vets!
Megan says
IKEA me…pretty please!!!!!!
We just bought a new house that is much bigger than our old place so we NEED furniture!!!
I love animals so I would do something to help a local shelter by providing much needed food supplies!
Lorilyn says
IKEA ME!
If I had a freebee year, I definitely would spend it helping the homeless youth population.
Lance Moore says
IKEA Me!
I would work on getting transgender people access to the services they need, in particular legal and medical. The need is so low on the general public radar.
Darlene says
IKEA ME!
I would do something for mothers of young children. They don’t get the support here in the States that it seems like they do overseas.
Michelle says
IKEA Me!!!
I would want to help with bring clean water to those who don’t have it.
Anne says
IKEA Me!
I’m a reading teacher who works with children with dyslexia. If I had a year to volunteer, I would work with first and second graders in schools that can’t afford intensive, individualized intervention for struggling readers. Bliss, a full year reading with children.
paige says
IKEA ME!
I think I’d like to start a community garden!
Jennifer says
IKEA ME! I would do more of what I already do, which is work with middle school kids after school doing Broadway musicals!
Laura Cowman says
IKEA Me….Please!!!!!
If I could have a year to help anyone it would without a doubt be at our local no kill rescue animal shelter where we found our girl Gertie.
Lora says
Ikea Me!
A whole year? I think I would volunteer with as many different organizations as possible to experience a wide variety of opportunities to learn and grow.
Tiffany says
IKEA ME!!! i would love to work with shelter animals
giuliana says
Ikea ME!!!! So Exciting!
Kids, Kids, Kids. I would TOTALLY spend the year working to develop garden programs in public schools across the States. My husband is getting his teaching credential and he was lucky enough to find a science class in an elementary school that was willing to start up a garden as part of the science curriculum. The kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it and it has been “theirs” from start to finish…all 7 planter boxes. It has been amazing to see how much pride they take in their work and in what they are slowly watching come to fruition. They are learning so much and growing up to be environmentally responsible and eco-conscious problem solvers! Hooray for our future and theirs!
Rebecca says
Ikea me!! I would love to work with underprivileged children and help them make better lives for themselves.
Stephenie Tiedens says
IKEA Me!!!! I would use the year sabbatical to work towards no homeless pets in my community as well as pet owner education.
Erin says
IKEA ME!! I am currently involved with an amazing organization called Back On My Feet (BOMF). BOMF is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings for this organization.
Blair says
IKEA Me
I would run a horse farm program where underpriveledged kids could come and ride out in the country.
Laura says
Ikea me! Community development and affordable housing work, for sure.
michelle says
IKEA ME!
I would go to Africa and volunteer with all of the children stricken by HIV and AIDS.
Amy Lovin says
IKEA me! I’d work with local organizations (and then reach out into broader territories) to increase recycling, reuse, and repurpose of just about everything and anything. I’d like to develop initiatives that would support programs to send less trash into our landfills and reward those that triple R (Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose).
Vanessa says
IKEA ME! I would dedicate myself to pro bono work. There are many needy people who simply can’t afford an attorney and don’t qualify for legal aid or public defenders.
Jess Gilbert says
IKEA ME!!! Whoa, how great.
I would love to spend a year in developing countries, working as a photojournalist and bringing the reality of their life back to the states to present in a powerful way. I feel like photos can be emotionally moving and will motivate action and charity.
kathy says
IKEA ME!! Please!! I would start a cooking school for disadvantaged children and teach them how to make healthy food.
Kelley says
IKEA ME!! Right now, I am a teacher in a very low income school. This year, we started some afterschool programs so kids have something to do that isn’t making trouble afterschool. We have clubs like Dance, Glee, Guitar, Drama, Art, etc. I’d LOVE to help see that programs like these expand to more schools, high and low income, so that children have a chance to get involved, refine their unique talents, and become well rounded members of society!
Sarah says
IKEA ME!!
I would mentor or tutor children!
Sammy says
IKEA me!
I would open a animal rescue/foster program that would not only take in animals needing homes but provide temporary fostering for pets of military members during their deployment.
keri says
ikea me!
i’d love to spend more time feeding those who don’t have the resources for a healthy, tasty meal.
Megan says
IKEA Me – please!!
I’d love to work with kids.
Caroline says
IKEA ME! love, love, love.
My husband and I started a youth group last year, but it has been really hard to do that in addition to my 40+ hour a week job and everything else we have going on. With a year to volunteer, I would ROCK that youth group, and get us involved in so many different mission projects in our city and around the world. It would be awesome. Sigh.
Melanie says
IKEA me!!
Brittany says
IKEA ME!
I would like to go on mission trips to foreign countries, building houses, handing out supplies, playing with local kids, etc.
Anita K says
IKEA me!!!!!!!!!
For a whole year, I would go to somewhere where infant/mother mortality rates are high and educate women and volunteer, since I am an OB nurse. That would probably be the MOST rewarding thing I can imagine doing! (Someday!!)