*** 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.
Juliene says
I got enter happy and didn’t get a chance to give my 2 cents about volunteering. How nice would it be to spend a year of your life helping others. I think it would be great to work with animals!! All animals
Cody says
IKEA Me!
I would love to volunteer my time to help elderly people in third world countries. They get overlooked so often. Plus they have amazing stories to tell!
amy d says
ikea me!
i would help out at a no-kill animal shelter.
Jenna Nelson says
IKEA ME! I would spend the year volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
erica says
IKEA Me!
I would invest in an arts and music program for low-income youth in my city.
el steena says
IKEA ME!
… and I would work with adult literacy programs.
Laura I. says
IKEA Me! I would spend the year working with our public school system.
Heather says
IKEA Me!
I would love to do something that involved helping children.
Holly Reid says
Ikea Me!
I would want to help low-income neighborhoods start community gardens! Nothing helps bring people together like gardening and food :)
Jennifer says
IKEA Me! I would start a centering pregnancy (group prenatal care) midwife-run birth center for teen moms in an area with very high teenage pregnancy rates.
Becca says
Ikea Me!!
If I could spend a year helping others I would spend time with kids that are being bullied in school. Get them to talk to each other and tell their stories. If I could get some of the “older bullies” or adults that were bullied in to speak with them to teach them that it does get better and that this isn’t the only part of your life that matters right now. Show them that I went through it and I made it through and am a stronger person for it.
Beth says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer in Haiti.
Amanda says
IKEA Me! I would absolutely love to spend a year educating youth regarding financial literacy.
Clara says
IKEA Me
I’d want to help adults learn to read and/or teach basic computer skills so job seekers could make and edit their own resumes.
robin says
“IKEA ME”
Courtney says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others I would find someone/some place local that could really use the help. People always seem to reach outside of their towns/countries.
The foobank where I live has been running desperately low for the last 2 years, it would be wonderful to expand on what little part I currently play in helping correct that!
Marissa says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could spend 1 year helping others, I would probably create arts programs in high schools that didn’t offer them. Or with homeless out reach.
Crystal says
IKEA ME!!
what a great prize. I would love to spend time creating a nonprofit site that would raise funding to help families adopt. Adoption is very expensive and it’s sad when you see your dream slip away because of money.
Chelsea says
IKEA Me!!! I live in a suburb of Detroit and there are whole blocks around the East Side of Detroit that are nothing but fields and burned out houses. I would get into the movement right now that supports urban farming, for families in the area with no available groceries or fresh produce in the area.
Carolynn says
IKEA Me!
I’d spend a year working on local literacy initiatives – happily!
And I’d spend an ikea gift certificates on hyllis bookshelves! Have my eyes on a DIY ceiling to floor project with those!
Chrissy (The New Me) says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would start up a community center and garden. I would bring in teachers and educators that would show people how to grow their own food, there would be space for community gardens, and once a month we would have a local dinner, grown, prepared and eaten by the community!
Karen says
IKEA me!
If I could spend a year helping others, I would volunteer with Americorps and Habitat for Humanity in my nearby city of Detroit. There is so much opportunity for change; it just needs a little TLC!
Thanks guys!
Rebecca says
IKEA ME! I’d send it to a mission in Uganda that focuses on feeding children. And providing shoes, clothes and school supplies.
Liz says
IKEA Me! If I could spend a year helping others, I’d divide my time between three things: 1) helping single-person/small businesses like my milkman expand their businesses through research and surveys (because that’s pretty close to my job, now!); 2) volunteering at a Kid’s Cafe or soup kitchen; and 3) playing with the puppies/kitties at the SPCA/Humane Society.
Rachel says
IKEA me!!! I work as a PICU nurse now and I would get more involved with my patients, following them after they have been discharged from the hospital setting, making sure they are getting everything they need and being taken care of.
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME…. I would probably work somewhere warm doing something to help the environment. Perhaps saving sea turtles in the Galapagos?
Stephanie Haropolous says
IKEA Me!
I would go to a devastated area, such as Haiti and try to help out as much as I can- Oh and of course bring smiles to the faces of the people living there.
Claudia says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the time and money making sure all school kids have the materials they need to learn all they can.
Kate N. says
IKEA Me!
Erin Gerlach says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year fostering animals!
Amanda says
Ikea me!
I would help Habitat for Humanity build homes for those in need!
Cynthia says
IKEA Me!
Christy says
IKEA ME! I would definitely do something for animals!
Janelle says
Ikea Me!!
I would split my time volunteering at Animal Shelters and finding a way to promote and help arts programs.
Paula says
Pretty sure I meant “IKEA ME!” not “IDEA ME”. But IDEA ME is good idea on a day like today at work when I’m running out of ideas.
Amanda says
IKEA Me!
BONUS QUESTION: If I had a year off to help others I’d like to work with/organize a program that brought more dance and performace arts to schools K-12. And volunteer at the local library (which are being crowded with people for job-hunting and underfunded per lower tax revenue from housing costs)
Liz says
Ikea me!
I would help our local food pantry!
Brenda says
IKEA ME!!
We have been helping refugees adapt to life in the US, would be great to take a year off from work to really concentrate on this!
Aimee says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to spend a year volunteering with children – in a classroom, as a mentoring, etc.
Gabby says
IKEA me! I’d love to be able to work at an animal shelter.
Erin says
IKEA me!
I would do something related to volunteering with at-risk youth and preparing them for independence through vocational counseling and exploring college and training options or something nutrition education focused like working with an urban farm and teaching kids how to grow veggies and cook with them.
lisa says
IKEA ME! LOOOVE the store.
Michelle B says
IKEA ME!!!
I love that place!
Anyhooo, I would love to volunteer in schools teaching and encouraging children to eat healthy, be positive and dream big!
Luke says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year teaching drama to poor and underprivileged kids. Involvement in the arts is paramount to success, and I believe this could help!
Tess says
IKEA ME!
liz says
IKEA ME!!!!
with one year to help others – i would love to work with children in hospitals in occupational therapy – art, specifically.
JEAN MITCHELL says
IKEA ME, PLEASE!!!! :)
If I had a year to devote to a cause I think I would pick something dealing with young women and pregnancies. Or maybe a program that encourages self esteem in young women.
Samantha says
IKEA ME…
I would love to spend a year in Africa helping open schools and finding the right teachers to place in those schools. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Africa after helping promote some Invisible Children events.
Jaime says
IKEA ME!
Good bonus question. I would spend the year working with at risk children in rural areas, trying to keep them from repeating patterns of violence or drug use by staying in school.
Cheri says
IKEA me! For a year to serve, I’d love to go volunteer at Holden Village with my family. It’s a great place for renewal!