*** 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.
joy says
IKEA me!
I would love to work with preteen girls and start a big/little sister type program.
Kara says
IKEA ME!!
I’d spend my year helping my in-laws (who are already there)in Swaziland, Africa helping to develop a public school system.
I’d also, coordinate “used shoe drives” with schools around New York State and have them shipped to needy children in the USA and around the world.
denise says
IKEA ME!
I already volunteer a lot with kids, but I’d really like to bring some sort of art-centered after-school program into my local schools. I think it’s a shame how many arts and music classes have been cut as of late.
Laura Grace says
IKEA ME!! I would love to counsel women in crisis pregnancy centers with an emphasis in faith based counseling. Women with all different religious backgrounds should be heard, understood and taken care of.
tiffany dove says
IKEA ME! I would donate my extra breast milk to a baby in need :)
Heather says
IKEA ME!!
The year would definitely be spent helping to rescue animals, particularly dogs. The last 7+ years just wouldn’t have been the same without my girl Stella and I would love for others to experience what I have.
Shawn says
Ikea me! Oh dear, there are already 10k people who’ve entered! Well, I would spend the time working with my aunt in Honduras helping build water filtration sheds.
Erin M says
IKEA me…
My fiance and I are moving in together THIS weekend. I would LOVE to be able to afford a nice bigger dresser. What a great gift!
If I lived somewhere for a year helping others, I would want to work in a hospital, I think, working with terminally ill.
Kristin McLendon says
IKEA ME! I’d head back to Central America where my heart was first stirred for International Missions (I’d most likely jump back on board with Christ for the City International)! Oh, that would be incredible!
Laura says
Ikea Me! If I could take that year’s sabbatical, I’d spend it working to develop the homeless shelter my area so desperately needs. The community churches are hosting “Wrapping Arms Around Many” (WARM) during the winter, but we have no permanent facility, so the guests stay at church facilities each week. We are trying to make a permanent day center and shelter, but it’s slow going. That’d be my goal.
Nicolas says
IKEA ME!
Anna says
IKEA ME!
I think that I would choose 12 different charities or philanthropic organizations and try each for a month. There are just too many people who need help, and lots of great organizations, to pick just one!
Seriously, though? Love y’all.
AudreyM says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would work with entrepreneur in the handcraft field in West Africa. In order to help them improve their business and reach new markets. Today a lot of knowledge of these people and their products are underestimated, but they have a lot of new idea to bring to the world!
Elana says
IKEA ME!! I’d love to work on getting local, healthy food into communities that survive mainly off of processed packaged food & fast food.
Amanda says
IKEA ME! I currently work at a non-profit law firm representing low income families in foreclosure. I really feel good about what I do and I think I’d continue doing that and maybe use some of the money to assist those families financially.
Caty says
IKEA ME! If i had a year to help i would work with kids, at schools making sure that each child gets the attention they deserve and to make sure that each of them know that they have potential and that they matter!
Jacquelyn says
IKEA ME!
I want to be the person that busts the a-holes who abuse animals. Let me at ’em!
Allison says
Ikea Me! I would tutor disadvantaged children
Britiney @ Consider the Lilies says
IKEA ME!! If I had a year to help people, I’d spend it in India working with orphans with AIDS. Thanks for a chance to win!!
Melissa says
IKEA Me…pretty please! I would love to teach English/Reading to at risk individuals!
Katie S says
IKEA Me please!
I would spend the year working with family’s that have children and unwed parents helping them to as afford-ably as possible have their dream wedding.
Dan says
IKEA ME!
I would do something to help eradicate hunger.
Kristen says
IKEA ME!
I would help the homeless.
KimB says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer in public schools!
Rachel says
IKEA me!!! I would help my church in its upcoming mission trips to Alaska.
Lonna says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year I’d like to be a missionary. I also wouldn’t mind spening a year educating people on the awesomeness of cloth diapering…I’m a dork, I know.
Shannen says
Ikea Me
Seth says
IKEA Me!
Probably start a rescue dog organization out of our house specializing in older dogs.
brooke says
ikea me!
Susan Kelley says
IKEA ME!
I think I would spend a year volunteering at the Humane Society. They do so much great work!
Amanda Willey says
IKEA ME!
I would establish a program that helps kids with autism with social skills.
Ashlei says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to help others, I would love to work with children, especially those with educational or family issues who need a friend more than most.
Kyle says
I would use my carpentry skills to fix houses for those who can’t do it themselves (or can’t afford to hire someone who can)
Ashlei says
I would spend a year working with kids who need help at home or at school.
Liesl says
IKEA Me!
I would love to go on several short-term mission trips and work with children in orphanages, as well as raise awareness for international adoption and domestic foster care and adoption…issues very much on my heart right now! :)
Ashleigh says
IKEA me!
I’m an alum member of a national service sorority (Omega Phi Alpha), and even served as my chapter’s Service Director, so actively participating in community service projects is something that is very dear to me. Trying to narrow down exactly what I’d do for one year is hard because as I learned over and over again with my position, there are endless opportunities to help people all over the world.
Amy says
IKEA ME!
I would bring school or medical supplies to third-world countries.
Jenny L says
IKEA Me!
Brittany G says
Ikea me!
I would love to help domestic abuse victims start thier own business so that they could support themselves while living in a safe environment.
I would also split my time helping with the green movement by teaching younger school children the merits of treating our world with kindness.
Thanks for having such a great website!
Jenny L says
IKEA Me! Please.
Emily Richardson says
IKEA ME!
I left part of my heart in Haiti 2 years ago on a medical missions trip, so I would go back and use my gifts as a nurse to serve the Haitian people.
Jenny L says
IKEA Me! I would visit the elderly.
Chandler says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to help people… I would start a youth mentoring program for overweight kids.
April Johnson says
IKEA Me!
Bonus: I spend my time helping students in Lego League to build their Lego Mindstorms in order to compete in local and national challenges in order to build independence, critical thinking, and to expose them to engineering. I love it :)
Anne says
IKEA ME!
I would go back to Bosnia and work with children there.
Bekah says
IKEA me!!!!!
If I could spend a year helping others I would want to use animals to bring children in hospitals happiness.
Jamie Escola says
IKEA Me!!!
I would love to spend a year helping my hometown of Canton, Ohio get rid of clutter and get organized. From homes to schools to businesses, it would be incredibly rewarding to see others find more peace in their lives.
Jan says
IKEA me!
Angela says
IKEA Me! I would help people learn to read, and make lots of squares for the Linus Project.
Emily says
IKEA me! :)
I would love to volunteer with deaf and hard of hearing children since I’m hard of hearing myself.