*** 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.
Jamie says
IKEA ME! I’d divide my time between working for homeless shelters and animal shelters.
AmandaB says
IKEA Me!!! If I could spend one year helping inner city kids (girls specifically) helping them learn how to reach their dreams and goals for when they grow up.
Olivia W says
IKEA ME. I would love to start a program after school for younger students, my younger sister’s actually in 4th grade and is struggling to keep up. My parents would help more, but they both work full time jobs to stay ahead. Just to be able to help, and give her and others the confidence to keep trying would be amazing.
Monica says
Ikea Me!
I would teach ESL for a year!
Kirk says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year to help others and I plan on doing this anyway, I would help mentor young boys in elementary school who don’t have a father figure in their life. This seems like a big issue in the US and even in the world and it may be leading to tons of related issues like crime, violence, and the same cycle of kids without fathers in the future since they didn’t have a good role model.
Lara Brown says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to work in a Children’s hospital by giving them a space for them to read books with cozy chairs and tables to complete art projects. I had a cousin that had cancer when she was in high school and I saw little ones that were so sick and it just broke my heart. I want to try to put some smiles on those faces.
Chelsea says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to spend a year volunteering at the humane society or another pet rescue agency. We adopted our pup from a rescue shelter, and I wish I could adopt all of the animals that need good homes and love!!
Pamela says
Ikea Me! I would spend the year opening up a new animal rescue center where the animals could roam in open rooms and await their adoption. I love the idea of buying a nice little house and making it a shelter instead of placing them in cages.
Roxanne says
Ikea me! I live in an impoverished neighborhood in north Tulsa. I would start a non-profit which would help upgrade older homes mechanical systems for those who cannot afford it on their own. Perhaps in exchange for community beautification hours or something similar.
Brenda says
IKEA ME, ASAP!!!
Kate says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year volunteering at the NICU taking care of the babies that need love and attention!
Jessica says
IKEA ME!
I’m a big believer the charities you’re involved with should have impacted your life. For me, I’d spend my year volunteering with residents of Fisher House. FH made a difficult time in my life easier to bear because I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to stay, how I was going to afford it and what to do if plans changed.
Beth says
IKEA ME!
I’d like to volunteer at the senior center.
Katie says
Ikea me!
Wow, what an amazing premise… I’d love to spend a year using my event planning and design skills to help a nonprofit. So many great organizations right here in our city, and what a dream it would be to call a few up and tell them I want to volunteer to organize their fundraisers.
Laura E says
IKEA ME!
I would work with NY Cares. They have various projects that help nyc residents of all ages.
Kristen B. says
IKEA ME! If I had a year where I could volunteer, I would love to work with children awaiting adoption and would try to improve the system. Every child deserves a loving family.
Kristin says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to work with kids after school doing art and creative play.
Ana says
IKEA Me! Without a doubt – a year in Haiti helping out at an orphanage.
Deena says
IKEA Me! I’ve had my eye on an orange sofa there so this money would definately go towards that!
Mikaela says
IKEA ME!
I would love to start an after-school arts and design program for all ages. There is so much good that can come from focusing attention on the hands-on projects art and design provide, and so little school funding being given to the arts. Growing creatives deserve just as much funding, fostering, and attention as sports!
Brenna says
Ikea me! I’d love to give a full year of my time to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (a pediatric oncology camp).
Anna T. says
IKEA ME! And I’d love to offer love and encouragement to foster children while they wait for placement in a forever home.
Andrea says
IKEA Me! I heart IKEA:) I would like to work with our senior population to help people stay in their homes and live independently as long as possible.
Kate says
IKEA Me!
I would love to create more livable areas for those less fortunate – not Extreme Makeover: Home Edition style, just nicer, more up-to-date and clean.
Kristin says
IKEA ME!!
And I’d be torn between donating it all to the March of Dimes, or donating it to an orphanage here in the USA
Nicole says
IKEA ME!!
I would help tutor the kids at the school in my neighborhood AND help at the animal shelter nearby.
HM says
IKEA ME!
I’d educate young people in Peru.
Sealicious says
IKEA ME!
there is so much opportunity to promote sustainability and small business developement in my homestate (RI) through ecotourism. I’d work with a local tourism council to help link our larger local tourism industry to these smaller, local businesses.
Lindy says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d love to bring home-cooked meals to all sorts of unsuspecting people — busy moms, shut-ins, homeless people, someone working the late shift, college students — and give them just one night where they could simply enjoy their dinner and not worry about everything else going on in their lives. After all, a good meal makes almost anything more bearable.
Rachel says
IKEA Me!
Wouldn’t it be amaizing if I could just volunteer and help others for one entire year! I would do 3 things. 1) I would volunteer with the Pancratic Cancer Action Network to raise money and awareness for most deadly cancer that took my moms life at the age of 54. 2) I would train for the domestic violence hotline and take calls helping women. 3) I would volunteer at our local shelter trying to get more furry babies adopted :) Love your blog!
Jennifer says
IKEA ME!
Tutoring kids in schools in math- seeing as I’m going to be a math teacher one day!
Sharon Roland says
IKEA Me!
I would like to volunteer with the big brother/big sister program.
Debbie says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to work with Children espically those who live in the US and can’t speak English.
Megan says
IKEA Me!!!
Danny says
IKEA ME!!
I’m going to school to be a nurse, I would like to help take care of sick kids.
Kristie says
IKEA ME!!
I could spend a year in Ikea…helping people by showing them around Ikea.
Megan S. says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer for Habitat for Humanity!
Tara says
Ikea Me! I would spend the whole year volunteering at the school run by my church.
Heather D says
IKEA me please..
id spend a year doing what i already do for free. id would volunteer with a medical clinic and offer medical care to ppl who normally wounldnt receive it.
Dayna Evans says
Ikea Me! In the past I have worked with women at homeless/battered women shelters on their appearances. Me and fellow hairstylists/makeup artists would give them makeovers. This boosted moral and helped them in the workforce. I’d also love to start a project where I could help local women find jobs and with their financial planning after their rehabilitation.
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I’m very passionate about finding forever homes for retired racing greyhounds! My husband and I have two of them, and (up until a year ago when we had to move to IL for work) we are very active in spreading the word about how fabulous they! I would definitely spend my year assisting in finding homes for as many retired racers as possible!
Allie Wildman says
Ikea me!
I think I’d have to divide my time between animal shelters, community pantry, and general community projects. There are so many organizations out there that need volunteers and funding!
See, I knew I loved Ikea for a reason :)
Katharine says
IKEA Me!
Are there really ten thousand comments on this post? I’d have a better chance of winning the lottery! LOL! Well what the heck.
What I’d do if I had a year to devote to charity: I am really into supporting local farmers, eating seasonally, etc. And our region is a difficult one, dominated by big agriculture. So I would work on establishing some kind of help/grants/organization/advocacy for small farmers and farm markets in my community.
Jenna W says
Ikea me!
I have a pretty big soft spot for animals, so I’d like to work at giving as many abandoned animals loving homes as possible!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to do something to help out teachers! My sister is a middle school science teacher and it’s amazing how they are given so little and expected to produce so much. Teachers need our help and support more than you can imagine.
Christi says
IKEA ME!
Erika H. says
please please IKEA me :o) !! can’t say enough how much i love that place… what i would do to help others… definately something w/kids, since i’ve became a mom my heart is just mush and would love to help underprivelaged kids in anyway i can!!
Renee says
IKEA ME!
I would help wounded soldiers and their families.
Laura says
Ikea Me!
I would work for one of those elephant rehabilitation organizations.
Michael says
IKEA ME!
I would teach financial literacy to low-income elementary school students.