*** 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.
Brea says
“IKEA Me!”
Bonus question: I’d probably volunteer at an IVF clinic to work with couples undergoing grueling procedures with the hopes of having a miracle baby.
Michelle says
IKEA ME!
I would love to work with teens from homeless and low-income families. Having been there myself, I would love to find ways to provide them opportunities to feel “like everyone else.” When I was poor, we were given food and clothes–the basics. This was great, of course, but I would have loved to have had guilt-free money to go to the movies or just to pick out some small thing for myself once or twice a year.
Eliza says
IKEA me!!!
Sabrina Clementine says
IKEA ME!
I’d probably volunteer with schools to work with children, or perhaps something more geared towards environmental awareness? Heck, why not both?!
Becky says
IKEA ME! I would love to volunteer with organizations that work with moms. There are so many ways we can impact each other and improve different faucets of our lives.
Kelly Morley says
Ikea Me…If I had a whole year I would help my best friend get her non-profit off the ground and running. She works with special needs kids and devotes a lot of time and energy to this very worthy cause!
Jon says
Ikea me! Probably something hands-on, like habitat for humanity.
emma says
IKEA ME! I would definitely help animals.
Morgan says
IKEA ME! I would want to work with film festivals.
Emma says
IKEA ME! I’d teach kids to cook.
Marsha Alexander says
IKEA Me!” and… I would work with homeless families. There are so many families that, due to the recession, have found themselves without a home. Being fortunate enough to have that year to provide a small amount of help to homeless families would be a blessing to me.
EJ says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off, I’d volunteer full time at a local shelter for homeless families where I already volunteer on the weekends.
Lori says
IKEA Me!
Being a photographer, I think I would volunteer my time to take photos for families who would not normally have the money to have professional family portraits. :)
PDXpursuit says
IKEA ME! I would teach english somewhere.
Laura says
IKEA me!
I am currently volunteering abroad for 3 months with an organization working in microfinance, lending small loans to poor folks. If I had a whole year, I would probably spend part of the time doing more of this project, and then something closer to home!
Amanda says
Ikea Me!!
Lauren A. says
IKEA ME!
I currently help fundraise for a local dog rescue organization! I would love to be able to take the whole year & raise money to help build a shelter for them (and of course, foster tons of dogs!) :) Then I’d probably want another whole year to help them with the shelter set-up. :)
Ryane says
Ikea ME!!
If I had a year to give back I would spend it in Ethiopia. The beautiful birthplace of two of my sons and my brother.
Catherine Regen says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year off for non-profit work, I would spend a year working to raise funds to make our food bank healthy! Its so terrible to have to hand out processed food with little nutritional value to families who are already struggling. Who knows, maybe I could make some relationships with large donors who would be willing to ‘green’ food banks across the country!
Thanks for the chance!
Shannon says
IKEA ME! If I had a year off free and clear, I would take the money to host a Stand Down program for homeless veterans in the DC area. I just saw a 60 minutes report about the largest one in San Diego and was very saddened that the problem is as large as it is. This would be a small way to thank these people for the fighting they have done for our country.
Chris says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d probably volunteer for an organization involved in environmental awareness.
Tricia A says
IKEA ME!
Callie says
IKEA ME! (Please? Just found out we have our own bambino on the way and have a nursery to furnish/decorate! This would sure help!)
I’d love to devote a year to my family’s non-profit – http://www.beamsofgrace.com. It’s a place we are developing to buy and sell items and the sales will benefit great causes!
Kelly says
Ikea Me!
I would work with students in our local school district to educate them on all the job/career options that are “out there”. Unfortunately in our low income area generations stay here doing the same jobs their parents and grandparents did, and students routinely express a frustration with not knowing what their other options are.
Stuart Smith says
IKEA ME! I would love to work with elementary school children to promote healthy living through sports and proper eating
Kristen says
IKEA ME! I would love to devote a year to making a community sustainable, specifically focusing on issues associated with solid waste and transit.
Becky says
IKEA ME! I would love to volunteer to hold babies at the hospital (isn’t there a job like this? I think there is…and since I’m done having kids, I’d love to do this).
Carrie says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to make a difference in Pit Bull rescue operations.
Amanda says
Ikea Me!
If I had a year to improve my community I would create a garden with fresh fruits and veggies and offer the community the free food to improve our childrens diets.
Amy S says
IKEA ME! I would love to teach ballet for free in the low income area of the neighborhood I currently teach in…
MarcR says
IKEA Me!
Help lots of people get that ONE THING done that they have been putting off!
Marin says
Ikea me!
I would volunteer at a birth center or the maternity ward of a hospital in a foreign country. I think the way we come into the world is so important!
Jorja L. says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others, it would be to teach people how to read. I love to read (including this fab blog!) and take for granted that others can’t share in the joy I get from reading.
Jeremy D says
ikea me!
Judy says
IKEA Me!
SD says
IKEA ME!!
Laura says
IKEA Me! It would be fun to spend a year volunteering with underprivileged kids. Even little things can make a BIG difference in a kid’s day.
Shannon says
IKEA ME!! I would volunteer working with children or for habitat for humanity.
ashley says
IKEA ME!
we would love to be able to voluteer full-time to help with the church plant we’re a part of. :)
Sarah says
IKEA ME! I would start a project in low income Austin to help underprivileged students consider the various career paths they can pursue.
Katie says
IKEA ME!
I would work with a land conservation organization.
Tara says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer to cook at a homeless shelter or something like that.
Dina Stewart says
Ikea me! If I had a free and clear year, I would help people who are out of work get ready for resumes and interviewing.
Great blog. We are new to Richmond and your posts are great for getting to know our new city.
Amber says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely do something that benefited kids in need.
Charlotte says
Ikea ME! I’d spend the year volunteering with underperforming schools or with a consumer advocacy group that is working to improve consumer protection with banking, housing, and credit cards.
E says
Ikea Me!
Love you guys! – For a year…I would help bring clean water to areas that dont have it :)
Jessica says
IKEA me!
If I had a year free I would work on fixing up all the old run down buildings in Atlanta. Atleast painting graffiti and cleaning up certain areas that tend to give the city a bad rap, Atlanta is an amazing place to live just needs a little love in some areas!
Jill says
IKEA me! I’d volunteer in the public schools in my city (New Orleans).
Lindsey says
IKEA me! I live in Memphis, known for many things… including shoddy schools. I’d love to work with the school system and students to give them a fair shot in life :)
katy says
IKEA ME!
I would start an animal santuary for homeless animals to run free.