*** 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.
megan says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year working with underprivilaged kids in an educational setting
Jessica says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year, I would love to start up a charity that would raise awareness and find volunteers to be Guardians Ad Litem for abused and neglected children. Guardians Ad Litem give these children a home and a voice, advocating when no one else will.
So many other ideas too…
Courtney says
IKEA ME!
There are SO many ways that I would like to volunteer… Ranging from doing work for God through outreach and ministry to helping at an animal rescue shelter finding wonderful dogs loving homes.
Danielle says
IKEA ME!
I teach at a rural high school and would help some of my students who are living in very poor housing.
Sarah says
IKEA me!
I’d work with children in need somehow. Take in a couple foster children, perhaps.
Cynthia says
IKEA Me!
I would tutor inner city kids.
Jill says
IKEA ME!If I could spend one year helping others it would be to work with homeless kids in this country. I would love find a place for these kids to call home, like an “orphanage” and to work with local government, churches and schools to coordinate their daily care. Too many people would love to foster parent these kids but can’t or are scared to. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place for them to go and people who were there for them that could express love and care for their lives? I’d like to help create that place.
Amy says
Ikea me!
I would help children and women that were victims of domestic violence or bad home situations in general.
Katy C says
IKEA Me! There are so many things I’ve thought of doing if I ever got the opportunity or even had a spare weekend. I think I would like most to spend time helping troubled teens or kids in foster homes. Life is hard, especially if you aren’t fortunate enough to grow up in a stable home, if you never find the right foster home…etc – everyone deserves to feel loved and I would love helping kids know that they are!
Quinlan says
IKEA ME!
A year off to help others? Awesome! I would definitely do something to help kids!
Melissa says
IKEA Me!
It’s always been a dream of mine to run a no kill animal shelter.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer in schools locally (also in Virginia), as well as work to rebuild our downtown area.
Tamara says
IKEA ME!
Can I give the money to someone else? I have friends that take in kids that have aged out of the foster care system and still need help. They don’t receive any government assistance and they could do a lot with that kind of money!
Anita says
IKEA Me! Please?
I would love to help advocate for veterans – in the areas of mental illness/PTSD and also with veterans 5+ years out of service and the homelessness issues that often follow mental illness/PTSD that doesn’t get diagnosed.
suzanne says
IKEA Me!
I would love to volunteer at an orphanage in a third world country.
Sandy says
IKEA me!
I’ve always loved the idea of starting some kind of a daycare center that would involve utilizing older people as caretakers and volunteers. So many children these days aren’t near their grandparents, and so many older people are lonely and aren’t near their grandchildren. Wonderful exposure for both — and fills two needs!
LC says
IKEA Me!
I’d like to volunteer at a camp for overweight kids to help them lose weight.
Andrea says
IKEA ME!
With kids in school and a part-time job at a professional theatre, I’m definitely seeing what a huge impact the arts have on children. So, I’d love to be able to dedicate more time to bringing kids into theatres, studios, etc.
Jen says
IKEA ME!!!!
BONUS: I would continue volunteering with Young Life and would be thrilled to be able to give more time to loving on high schoolers & sharing Jesus!
Alissa Christman says
IKEA Me PLEASE!
What would I do with a year and enough money….I know there a lot of mom’s out there (like me!) who don’t have enough time or money to get near what they need to done in a day! I’d set up a moms helping moms program. Everything from using the skills you have that maybe another mom doesn’t to help her out, to watching each-others kids in a safe environment so you can find a little extra time in the day!
Sarah Miller says
IKEA ME!
I would love to teach the importance of good nutrition to our school-age kids and their parents.
I would also love to have the time to volunteer at our humane society. How fun would it be to get those dogs out for new smells and sights on a regular basis?!
Sheri Johnson says
IKEA me!
I’d work with immigrants and on immigration awareness with the general population. There are SO many misconceptions of the process and why people immigrate to the US – legally and illegally. These people are our neighbors, not our enemies!
Melissa says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year to help others, I would work with at risk foster children in my area.
Amelia says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer at Covenant House – a place for runaway youth.
Michelle Z. says
IKEA ME! I’m fortunate enough to work for a national health non-profit educating parents and children on the importance of a heart healthy lifestyle, so I get to help others across the country every day of the week!
Aimee says
IKEA ME!
I would start up a youth recovery program for teens that I’ve been passionately dreaming about since I went through my own recovery years ago.
Thank you!
amy says
Ikea Me!
Support my local community animal shelter and help out with education in any what that I could.
Emily says
IKEA ME
I’d go back to New Orleans for some more Hurricane Clean-up!
Melissa says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer in another country.
Janice Devereux says
IKEA Me!
Bonus Question: Would love to volunteer at the local cat shelter, Metro West Animal Shelter here in Boston the staff there is awesome!
Debbie says
IKEA ME Please!
I would probably start an organization to help the families of our deployed military in a variety of ways.
rebecca says
IKEA Me. hmmm I think I would volunteer for the YMCA doing youth sports.
Amanda T says
IKEA Me!
I would love to volunteer more with the March of Dimes and also help get food to less fortunate families.
Laura says
“IKEA ME”
I would start a low interest loan project for lower income families to do much needed repairs to their homes. Need a new roof, but bank won’t lend you money?.. come to us.
ML says
IKEA ME!
We recently rescued a Great Pyrenees from the Big Fluffy Dog rescue organization in Tennessee and she has become my life. :) I would love to spend a couple of years working to rescue large dogs and place them in loving forever homes.
Kat says
Ikea me! 365 days to devote to animal rescue? Yes, please! :-)
Marci says
IKEA ME!
I’d devote my time to helping young underpriveleged children to read.
Katy Clark says
IKEA me!
I would work at a local youth shelter for a year!
Kelli says
IKEA ME
What a fabulous opportunity! I would open the handmade store I’ve been dreaming about where I would teach sewing classes to women and have them sell their goods to work toward financial independence!
Laurie says
IKEA Me! Holy cow – 365 days to do good in the world? Sign me up.
Wilma says
IKEA ME!
I’d buy a dining room table and chairs.
Vinutha says
IKEA ME!
I would go to India and do public health work– AIDS awareness, free vaccinations, providing clean drinking water. . .the possibilities are endless!
Sarah says
IKEA ME
What a great opportunity. I would work with disabled children and adults to make sure they are receiving the services and support they deserve.
Elisabeth says
IKEA me!
Wow, living 7 hours from the nearest IKEA after living only 20 min away has me breaking out in hives! Time for a road trip!
I would be overwhelmed with 365 days to do good…I’m sure I could think of something!
Veronica says
Ikea Me!
I would spend a year volunteering with an organization working with victims of sexual trafficking. During that year, I would also work on developing a curriculum to raise awareness about sexual abuse amongst youth.
Mike H. says
IKEA Me! I would definitely volunteer at an animal shelter!
Cassie C says
IKEA ME!
If I had a million dollars or some extra money I would spend it on public service announcements challenging politicians to run more positive campaigns as well as ads to show how our government works for us. We are so concerned about children bullying other children but what about our leaders bullying our leaders? Shouldn’t the adults model the behavior they expect?
[email protected]
Lindsey Gurley says
IKEA Me!!!! With a year off to bring happiness to the world, I would probably return to working with foster kids aging out of the system – teach life skills, provide support, all the things parents are supposed to do!
Wenny Cheng says
IKEA ME
If I can take a year to do some good I would like to volunteer at a child care center. I remember doing this back in high school and LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Now that I’ve two kids of my own, I want to do it even more. =)
Megan Tisdale says
IKEA Me!
If I had a free and clear year, I would devote my time and energy putting a big dent in the stray pet overpopulation in my local area. I would be a big voice for the No Kill Shelter movement and push hard for laws concerning animal cruelty to change.
Spay and Neuter your pets, never buy anything from a pet store that sells animals and think about some items you have in your home that you can donate to your local No Kill Shelter.
Thanks!