*** 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.
Renata says
IKEA ME! Since I was a child I had this dream of building houses for homeless people. I became an architect but never got a real chance to put my hands on to make this dream come true. I found out that Ikea had partned with Skanska (a also Swedish company that deal with construction) to build and furnish affordable and stylish homes for people in need. Check it out if you like: http://www.boklok.com/theconcept/
Anyway, I’d love to be part of boklok or habitat for humanity and use my skills for a good cause.
Krista says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would love to be foster mom to some sweet furrbabies in need. :)
Christine Trebendis says
IKEA ME!
I would love to work with kids after school doing art projects & creative play.
Jessica says
IKEA ME!!!!! I would help with the elderly… providing services to help with grocery shopping, household tasks, and keeping them company :)
sumeera says
IKEA ME! I would develop a literacy program in our town. I think instilling a love for reading is the best gift you can give a child and one that will serve them their whole life.
Abby Donovan says
IKEA ME! I’d spend a year cheering up sick/elderly patients at our local hospital.
Kathy says
IKEA Me!!
I would love to spend the year getting our kids back to reality and to put down their video games and show them how they can make a difference in this world!!
Wendy says
IKEA ME!”
We’ve got a Star of Hope Mission organization with a division devoted to women and kids. I wish I had more time to devote to them.
Leanne says
IKEA ME!! If I won $100,000 to take a year off, I’d spend the year walking in every one of the 15 Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure events. For each event I would walk 60 miles in 3 days and raise $2,300 per event to help those battling with breast cancer and to help find a cure. I’m walking in two events this year but wish that I could do more. Between walking, I’d continue helping rebuild the greater new orleans area.
Krisde says
IKEA ME!
Mentoring at risk kids would be just one of the things I’d enjoy.
Mary Beth says
IKEA ME!!
I’ve actually been thinking lately about what I would do to help out NOW in my current stage of life. If I had a year? I would be tempted to move to a different neighborhood or country and do my part to bring light there.
Bill says
IKEA Me!
I would love to start a non profit shelter for stray cats.
Sarah Beth Eady says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help children with out good homes. We have several local organizations that offer temporary homes for children in difficult family situations.
Abbey says
IKEA ME!!!!!
I would spend the year volunteering my time in the school with kids. It’s soo important to give our children positive role models today and I would take this time to help make a difference in several lives…
Erin says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization dedicated to providing shelter to those in need. Your blog alone makes it clear how important a home is, and I think everyone deserves a nice place to call their own.
Heather says
IKEA Me!
Start a hippotherapy program! (Horses helping disabled people)
Kim V. says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend my year working on Houses for Habitat for Humanity and helping out at an animal shelter. Even though it would be construction, building houses might be safer since I’m sure to fall in love with more than one animal and what to bring him/her home :-)
Beth Ann says
IKEA Me!
I’d spend a year working and teaching at an orphanage somewhere in the world!
Blair R says
Ikea me!
Katie says
IKEA ME!
I would love to volunteer to help kids in bad family situations.
Lacey Mc says
IKEA ME!!
I have a lot of friends with new very young babies. I would love to do an afternoon – evening program for new moms. I would take the baby/babies off their hands for a couple hours so they could take a bath, read a book… or SLEEP!! Kind of like a recharge zone for new mommies. Sometimes I think my friends just need an hour or two and they would be good to go!
Might sound crazy… but seeing my friends tired after working and being a full time mom all day breaks my heart sometimes. Because they can’t just enjoy being a mom cause they are so exhausted!
Felicita says
Ikea Me!!
I would definitely help the helpless animals.
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would want to tutor children in math and reading!
Rachel E. says
IKEA Me!
I’d open an after school theatre program for schools who lost it from funding cuts (or never even had one in the first place.)
Autumn Tao says
IKEA ME!
I teach HS English and focus a bit on social responsibility… getting them to see beyond our community. I have a UNICEF fundraiser this month, food drive next month, but I’d to have the time to step away and plan some schoolwide initiatives for the spring.
Thanks!!
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help out a local animal shelter. I love animals and get so sad to see the dogs and puppies being crammed into a small kennel all day long.
Arlene Ramos says
Ikea Me!!
I would like to offer a scholarship of some sort to a needy student.
Jennine G-L says
IKEA ME I would probably want to spend the time in Africa working with Orphans, and then probably adopt one and bring them home with me. I don’t know how my husband would feel about me being gone a year so this might be a little tricky. I could do this in the US also and maybe work with kids in my area and help build a better housing facility for them and then take one home as one of my own. Possibilities.
Misty says
IKEA ME!
I’d start an after-school dance program for underpriviledged children. I volunteered at one years ago (pre-family) and was amazed at the change in the children I taught.
Alicia S says
IKEA Me!
I volunteer for a program that tutors homeless children. I would love to help strengthen that program and expand it to reach other communities.
Chris says
IKEA me!
I would want to do something working with the poor and homeless. Maybe volunteer at a soup kitchen.
Amanda says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year helping at risk kids and rescuing animals. I have a soft spot for children and animals.
Carrie says
IKEA me!
My puppy has changed me, and I would love to work at a shelter or with an organization that places animals into forever homes.
Aaron says
I would set up an organization to help the deaf around the world to have the same opportunities as hearing.
Mariel says
Ikea me! What I would love to do is to start a local nonprofit geared towards the arts. I could hold artist workshops etc.
Jen Gard says
IKEA Me please!!! I would spend a year helping lead bereavement camps across the US for children who have lost a loved one (ComfortZone)
Katie says
Ikea me, pretty please!
I would gladly use a year off to help further the very necessary revolution in school lunches. Kids deserve a chance to make healthy food decisions! Throw in locally-sourced food, and everybody wins.
Zachariah says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer with a pet shelter.
Ashley says
IKEA me!! I would do some work with Habitat for Humanity.
Kristi says
Ikea me!!! I would love to spend a year working in medical centers in Africa or South America helping those who don’t have access to health care!
Mary Frances says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping raise funds for the local library. It’s such a great part of the community, and yet it’s budget is always one of the first to go!
emily thornton says
Ikea Me! I would love to help the cleft palate foundation
Chris says
IKEA ME!!!
I would love to develop a program that would “hook up” teens with nursing home residents. So many of the older folks are forgotten or just not respected and taken care of emotionally. Our youth have so much to gleen from their wisdom and tales of yesteryear…
Gretchen says
IKEA Me! Before my current job I was fortunate enough to have free time to spend as I wished. Looking back I could have done so much more volunteering. I would love to spend more time helping the youth at our church, volunteering at a local hospital and helping with the new Ronald McDonald House in town. Those days you volunteer always feel so good no matter how tired you are!
Laura says
IKEA ME!!
I would spend a year helping the less fortunate in my city. My husband and I spend a week every year in the summer with our youth working on the homes of people that don’t have the resources to fix them. It’s an amazing week and so sad to see people who live a couple of miles away from you suffering but great to know that we are able to help.
Brooke greene says
So so glad to know about the life improvement project
So awesome!
Ikea me please
Liz W. says
IKEA ME!!!!
Nicole says
Ikea Me, pretty please!
I would volunteer to teach fine arts to children…. all too often arts programs are not offered in schools. With technological toys and video games, kids aren’t imagining or creating anymore. Exposure to the arts will help them think outside the box, which will help them solve problems later in life (and help them decorate their future houses!)
Katie Schmitt says
IKEA ME!!!
I would help out at food shelves and find ways to bring fresh produce to all people!
Heather says
Ikea me!
I’d like to work at a home for pregnant women who need support and a place to live so that they can raise their babies.