*** 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.
Jessica says
Ikea Me! I’d love to work with a rescue shelter!
Karli says
IKEA ME!!! I wouldn’t mind helping to expedite adoptions of baby girls in China to people who would love them.
Amanda says
IKEA Me!
I’d spend more time working with the local Hospice group that works with children in the area. Love them!
Emmelie says
IKEA me, please!
I would spend a year (or more, if I could) rocking babies in under staff orphanages.
Jenny M says
Uh, yes please, IKEA ME! If I had a year to help people I’d spread myself out in the Appalachian countryside teaching reading and writing to kids, help out our local animal shelter, and speak about teenage pregnancy. I’m sure there’s more I would do in a year but this is just off the top of my head!
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I would use my year sabbattical to open a parent workshop center where parents can attend classes to receive support and guidance on issues like the ‘terrible two’s’, bullying and teens who talk back.
Clarkie @ A Runner's Diary says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the time helping with animal rescue efforts and at humane societies. Something that is close to me as a pet mama.
Wendy Mitchell says
IKEA ME!
My year would be spent working at the L.A. Regional Food Bank here in Los Angeles. I’m hoping to have my 50th birthday party there in January!
Ruthie Mae says
IKEA me!! I would spend a year fixing or building houses for senior citizens.
sherryl says
Ikea Me!
I would spend a year helping out at a work development program for autistic adults like my brother.
Megan Yarmuth says
Ikea me pretty please!
Oh and if I won the year of giving, I would be ecstatic and would either volunteer with local food programs in the Washington, DC area OR volunteer on a third world country project for sustainable water solutions like this one (http://www.waterforpeople.org/extras/playpumps/case-foundation-partnership.html). So great!
Tara says
IKEA ME! I would start an after school program focused on math and science and spend the time raising money for public schools in the area!
Lisa Gutierrez says
IKEA me!
Lynne says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer for a clinic that provided free health care for the underserved.
Caroline says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year helping in a women’s shelter.
christina says
IKEA ME!
Too many ideas to pick just one right now!
anne mcelroy says
IKEA ME!!! I would love to start an afternoon reading program for kids in my neighborhood.
Jennifer says
IKEA ME!
I used to volunteer with Head Start a lot and I really enjoyed it. I’d also love to work more with home-less animals
Mkerwin says
IKEA ME!!!
Lissa@AfterAdornment says
Ikea Me!!!
I wouldn’t know where to start! So many ways to help but would most likely start local and help out with something close to home.
Sarah J. says
IKEA me!
I’d love to spend time working with orphans in South America or Asia.
Jennelle says
IKEA Me!
I’m not sure what I would do if I had a year to volunteer or work with a charity because I love my job and I would miss it! Am I a total geek or what? $100,000 is more than I make in a year, though, so I would be hard-pressed to pass it up! I’m very passionate about food policy, so I would love to get involved more with that cause.
Rachel says
Ikea me, Please!
I’m actually really glad you posted this! Im going to apply to the Life Improvement Project! I’m going to be applying to do a medium-length mission trip in Africa for 6 months! If I had $100,000 I could stay for a full year and donate the other $90,000 to the organization I will be working with! (It’s not exactly expensive to live in Uganda) The non profit is called Watoto and it has done SO much for the people of Uganda and I am applying to be a photographer for them for six months (cross your fingers i get in!)
Oh, and if i did get the ikea giftcard, I’ve been eyeing the Trollsta Buffet ever since you posted it on a moodboard! Hopefully i could find it in that incredible yellow color!
Thanks for everything you guys do!
Christine says
IKEA ME!!!!!!
Jennifer says
IKEA Me!
I would happily spend a year volunteering to help rescue rabbits! :)
brandi says
IKEA me!
I would love to spend more time helping out in an animal shelter.
ginastorm says
IKEA me!
Elle Sees says
IKEA ME!
After my trip last weekend to New Orleans (first-timer) I felt compelled to work with Hurricane Katrina survivors. Super strong and amazing ppl.
Becky says
IKEA ME!
I’m so inspired by my husband, who has already given up his career to help others – he helped expand a non-profit into our state and is now running it full time. I’d love to take a year off and help him with his incredibly important work.
Lauren says
IKEA ME
Adam says
IKEA ME!!!
Courtney McIlwain says
Please Ikea Me!!!!! I would love to have a farm for rescue animals.
Jessica says
Holy Cow! IKEA ME!! Please!!!
I’d love to have a year to volunteer and do good things. I’d probably help animals, dogs and cats. So many are needlessly killed every year. I know there are “more important” issues in the world than homeless dogs and cats, but that’s where my heart is. I love me some puppies and kitties!
Emily says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off I would spend time volunteering to improve literacy. Reading is so important!
Christina says
IKEA ME!
I’m not sure what I would do…but something with children!
ErinAnn says
Ikea Me!
I would renew my massage license and volunteer for home hospice care and elder care.
Rebeca says
Please IKEA Me!!!! I’d love to work assisting low income families and specially kids with food, clothing and education!!
Michelle says
Yup, IKEA ME! That’s tough to think about – I’m in the engineering business, and interested in green building, so I like to do something with that – perhaps help show low income folks how to do some energy retrofits on the cheap. Is there already an organization that does this?
Morgan says
IKEA me!!!
hmm… probably with a rescue shelter
Brandon says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d spend my year and money in the Ukraine helping kids with medical needs.
Brandy Davis says
IKEA me! I’ve thought of doing various Americorps jobs/projects many times but mainly haven’t due to the financial constraints…
Arissa says
IKEA ME! I would like to work with local school food/breakfast programs. Working towards a time that all children eat a proper meal before school and that kids are offered healthy choices as well as learn about what they are eating.
Traci Ross says
IKEA ME!!!!
almk says
IKEA Me! I’d actually give the money to my husband and let him do it, since I’m a grad student/stay at home mom right now. He used to be the chair of the service and outreach committee at our church, so I’m sure he could come up with some projects that need a little help.
Susan says
IKEA me! I would definitely go to African on a mission trip helping at the orphanages.
Traci Ross says
IKEA Me!!!! I would start a ranch where I could take in and foster dogs that would otherwise be put to sleep and find them good homes.
Sammyw says
Ikea me!!
tia says
IKEA me please
If I could spend a year helping others I’d start a charter school for students with Autism.
Jenny Lee says
IKEA Me!
I would help people learn about the bible.
SMBRiddle says
IKEA me!
If I had a year to help people I’d work with youth groups cleaning up my city.