*** 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.
Shayne says
IKEA Me!
Anissa says
Yay! IKEA Me!!
Michael Parrish says
IKEA Me!!
Kate Hunka says
IKEA meeeee! you don’t understand how often I’m there but walk out with nothing because I’m pooooor! Doesn’t stop me from going though!
If I had a year I’d definitely travel through volunteering! I’m always checking out amazing projects and life changing volunteer opportunities, but with our current paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle, it isn’t possible. Please help me to help others by building ovens, wells, irrigation systems, schools, homes….. !
Haylie says
IKEA ME!
Love your blog, keep up the good work!
Candace Guy says
Ikea Me!!!
I would really like to aide and assist teen moms and prevention programs. I am a mother of 3 (4th will be here anyday now) and cannot imagine the trials and tribulations of motherhood at a young age and juggling school/teenage years.
Allison says
IKEA me!! Thanks, John and Sherry! And Ikea!
Franny B. says
Ikea Me! :)
There’s so much I would want to do…I think I’d start by sharing my love for books with kids through a literacy/reading program. And then perhaps a program to keep funding for arts in schools…
Amy says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d work with rescue grey hounds, I think. I love them so much and want to adopt one myself sooo much, but just don’t have the space.
That or work with illegal immigrants in some fashion. I just finished reading Devils Highway about the illegal border crossings from Mexico and it is heartbreaking.
Lesa Baker says
IKEA Me!
Christina M says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to inspire kids in school in Science and Math. Maybe bring science demonstration shows to low income schools. Just think of all the little scientists out that could be inspired!
Kelly says
IKEA me!
After losing two pets suddenly, I would love to take time to volunteer at an animal shelter or rescue society to honor their memory.
Sarah W. says
IKEA ME! I love the store so much I incorporated the name into my email address! I’m also a sucker for “pre-owned” cats and dogs, so I would spend my year helping to spread the word about adopting shelter animals and the importance of spaying/neuturing. I would also like to bring cats and dogs into the lives of the elderly, sick, and disabled – in their homes or care institutions.
Andrea p says
IKEA ME!
I would spend one year building homes with habitat for humanity & putting my home improvement skills to use!
Amber says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely spend time in campus ministry!
jacob says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer a year at our local city mission. They provide housing and meals for unfortunate families while spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
lindsay says
Ikea Me!
I think I would like to do a soup kitchen or something along those lines because everyday there are people out there that are not eatting and it scares me.
Jennah says
totally IKEA me!
Fun fact: I actually did a creative writing project on IKEA in college. But if I had the time, I’d love to start some farming projects with the local schools. That’d use both my gardening skills and my schools connections.
Laura T says
Ikea Me!
I would work with animal rescue, welfare, and health care :-)
dm says
IKEA ME, I would work to really fund the charity run we’re organizing in honor of my dad, whom we lost in April to lymphoma.
Emily S says
Ikea ME!
I would spend a year teaching low income families how to shop and prepare meals!
Lanita says
IKEA Me! I’d spend the year volunteering to teach kids how to write. The ability to express yourself through written communication is a skill that keeps giving as long as you live.
Ashley says
Ikea me! I would start an after school program for disadvantaged students with a desire but no means to go to college.
meredith says
“IKEA ME!”
I would definitely work with animal shelters to help reduce/erradicate any kill shelters in the south east.
Jason M says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year volunteering in education, specifically in failing schools.
Jennifer H. says
IKEA ME!
I would work with young, single moms and expectant moms to help them learn how to care for themselves and their families, prevent them from going into poverty or help them out, and show them Jesus.
Josie says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year and an infinite budget, I would spend my time helping families who have lost jobs and are close to being homeless get back on their feet again.
jo says
IKEA ME! if i could take a year off i would spend half of it at best friends animal sanctuary helping the animals there and the other half at an orphanage in the u.s.
Twila Mooneyham says
IKEA ME…I would love to have a year off to help people. I don’t know that I would necessarily “start” a program…but I would sure love to help a few out in my local area…
Twila
Mary M. says
IKEA ME!! Orphaned children are always on my heart.
Meg Welch says
IKEA Me :)
Wow… To be able to spend a year helping others would be an incredible experience. I spent a few weeks in a Russian orphanage once and fell in love with their beautiful humble souls. The kids there literally had nothing, no shoes, no toys, yet their gentle smiles and infectious laughs showed me the power of love and of having each other. I would love nothing more to go back and spend time there and in other orphanages loving children, teaching them, helping them learn useful skills that they can use to get jobs one day, and sharing God’s love with them. I would also love to spread awareness of the millions of orphans in the world other and believe that it would bring awareness to other great social issues such as AIDS, starvation, and human trafficking.
To be a voice for those that don’t have voices all over the world would be an honor and one I would not take lightly. These children have been abandoned and left on doorsteps, they are unloved and unwanted.. I want to change that, and, I think, with an opportunity like this, I can…
shorty says
IKEA Me!
If my kids were older I think I would like to help missionaries around the world. However right now I think I will just raise my kids right here!lol
shannon says
IKEA ME!!!
I think I would do a lot more volunteering, but I would also consider opening a shop specifically for recycling furniture & house wares. I would like to take things people get rid of and repurpose them for something else or even just make them better somehow, sort of a ‘green anitiative’! Then I’d find some way to give it back to the community – maybe decorate habitat for humanity houses when they are complete. I’m just a girl with a pink tool box who wants to get her hands (a little) dirty!
jessie says
“ikea me!!”
i would bring arts to inner city schools.
Heather says
IKEA ME!!
Although I work as an Early Intervention therapist (and I’m a mom of a child on the autism spectrum), if I had a year to volunteer my time, I would like to be involved in autism research. Really get involved with the studies, be on the board of one of the leading autism organizations, etc. This is such a growing epidemic, and it will continue to grow unless we can pinpoint causes and the best treatment for it.
Sarah Migl says
IKEA Me!
If I could, I would donate my time to help no-kill shelters for abandoned pets. We have adopted both of our pets from no-kill shelters and it is good to know that you are helping to save pets lives.
Courtney says
IKEA me!
If I had a year to be philanthropic, I’m not sure exactly what I’d do… I think I would want to focus on the issues of hunger and/or homelessness in my local community but I don’t want to just help out with an existing organization. I’d like to take the time to investigate the best way to help, whether that’s creating a new organization, helping with an existing one, or finding a completely new way to impact the situation. It would be an amazing opportunity!
Joyce C says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at an animal shelter.
Blanca A. says
IKEA Me! I would help the animal society because it breaks my heart to see these poor animals in those conditions.
Keith says
Ikea Me!
Pat says
IKEA ME
Janelle says
IKEA ME! If I had a year, my husband and I would love to help on World Relief re-build project through our church, both in the States and internationally.
Great giveaway!
Amy says
Ikea me!!!!
I would spend a year working providing medical care to people in areas that rarely, if ever, get a chance to have professional medical care.
liz says
Ikea me! I would love to help working mothers by helping with some sort of free child care clinic.
Jessica K says
IKEA Me!
I’d love to work at an animal rescue shelter and help with low cost spay and neuters. Or maybe go to Africa to work on an elephant and rhino refuge! :)
Amber says
Holy cow, Ikea me! If I had a year at my disposal, I would love to to work in a wildlife rehabilitation center rescuing animals affected by natural disasters.
Chelsea says
I would spend 1 year (or more) volunteering my time to people with MS – it is a cause near and dear to my heart.
foo says
“IKEA Me!”
I would definitely do something helping local kids. Maybe an afterschool program.
Ashley P says
IKEA ME!
Love love love! I dream of spending a year with Habitat for Humanity.
Sarah Durham says
IKEA Me! I would spend the year helping at risk children. I would develop some sort of after school program for kids from broken homes to make sure they get the love and attention they need.