*** 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.
Kristin says
Awesome. Ikea Me!
There are so many people/organizations that need a helping hand. However if I had to choose, it would be helping less-fortunate children start and continue on the path of education and community service so that they could become productive adults.
Leah says
IKEA ME! Please!!
I’d love to get involved in some sort of children’s reading program. It’s just crazy to me that there are kids in America whose teachers just pass them along through school even though they can’t read!
Caitlin says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year building — houses and homeless shelters, with as many people as I could get to help.
Cait @ Hernando House says
Ikea me!
I’d volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, it’s a great way to gain home improvement skills while helping others. And I’ve been dying to have time to volunteer more with them since my husband and I met at our local Habitat for Humanity. I’d volunteer at the local Humane Society, too.
Sarah R says
IKEA ME!
I currently volunteer with a number of organizations aimed at helping the poor and hungry, and would get more involved if I could do just that for a year!
Polly says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer for Habitat for Humanity all over the US.
Erica M says
IKEA me!
I would probably want to work with an animal shelter or some kind of teen reach out program, helping kids at an impressionable age
Elizabeth says
IKEA
i would work with farmers and communities to increase the demand for locally growth food!
Kristen says
IKEA Me!
I would use the money to educate on the importance of the Great Lakes and how to conserve our fresh water.
Jaime says
IKEA Me!
I’d work in a college preparedness program like College Bound or Admission Possible.
Marisa says
IKEA me!
I’d spend a year serving at a Young Life property–doing anything from scrubbing dishes to sharing with high school kids just how much Christ loves them. It would be awesome to give back to an organization that poured into and invested in me as a high schooler.
Alexus says
IKEA Me!
I would use the money to help single mothers in domestic women’s shelters. Once a victim myself I would love to help others the way people have helped me
susan says
IKEA ME!
PLEASE!!!
If I could spend one year helping others, it would be spent helping others learn how to cook delicious, healthy, and affordable meals for their families. So many families today eat so poorly. Sometimes due to schedules, finances, and even sometimes laziness. Our culture is so unhealthy and I’d like to be even a small part of what’s going on to change that!
Mere says
IKEA ME!
I volunteer with an animal rescue group on the weekends and and have helped thousands of cats and dogs through the years find homes. This cause is near and dear to my heart so I would focus on helping more homeless animals find forever, loving homes.
Jennifer says
IKEA Me! With teen bullying at the forefront of the media these days, I’m determined to find a way to reach out to youth, whether it’s through building self esteem or teaching coping skills.
Heather says
IKEA Me!
I don’t know if I could even set my mind on doing one thing if I had the whole year. I would definitly want to build houses for those in need, and work with kids in after school programs to keep them on the right track, and alsohelp out getting donatiosn for food banks, goodwill and other basic needs for people without. Wow I think I could have a whole bucket list of ideas! :) that would be amazing!
Liz says
IKEA me!
I would love to spend a year working with orphans in an impoverished country.
Mike @HA says
IKEA Me! I’d spend the year working with Feed My Starving Children – a local Minneapolis org that packs and delivers meals to 3rd word countries.
Wendy says
IKEA ME!
I would spend one year volunteering with the Alpha Pregnancy Center here in SF and help support unprivileged moms in the caring for their children. It’s a cause close to my heart because I’m 35 weeks pregnant!
Merris Tozer says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely spend the year helping animals. Whether it be volunteering at the Humane Society or another organization, I would love the chance to help those that can’t help themselves!!
Robyn says
IKEA ME! I would work with orphan children
sylvan says
IKEA ME!
I would use the money to develop sustainability educational programs.
Michelle says
Ikea Me! Please!
My heart hurts for the Haitian children being trafficked in the Dominican Republic right now. I wish I knew how to help them while still serving my first calling of being at home with my children.
Laura says
IKEA ME!! If I had a year sabbatical I would spend it in the Philippines. My husband and I were able to spend 2 weeks with a group of college students trying to teach them to better their lives and would love to spend a year with these wonderful students!
Barb says
IKEA ME!
I would rescue animals, no question about it.
Mary says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year in a Romanian orphanage, helping children who are without families, just as our children were when we adopted them.
Alexa F. says
IKEA Me!
I would absolutely spend that time cleaning up the SF Bay Area shoreline/trails or/and have a non-profit program for youth to learn more about the environment, native plants and animals and how important it is that humans not destroy or pollute the natural world.
Terri says
IKEA ME!
I think I would have to volunteer with either animal rescue or some sort of art program.
vespa rossa says
IKEA MEA (PLEASE)!
I would love to use the time and money towards helping my own local community (NYC) with more funding for rehabilitating, training, and finding shelter for the homeless.
Julie says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others, I would donate my time to this great organization in my area that sets up willing volunteers with nonprofits that need help. More people need to know about them!
Elizabeth Dawson says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year registering people for the bone marrow registry. Everyone has the chance to save a life!
Ashley says
IKEA Me!! I would want to work with underprivileged kids to promote literacy at a young age; without a strong background in reading and writing, it is so hard for a child to be successful later in school, work, and daily life!
Lora says
IKEA Me!!! I’d use the year to become licensed as a foster family–something we always have wanted to do. There are way too many kids out there who need good homes.
Jennifer B. says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the money on orphanages. Maybe fixing them up so they are bright and cheery. And holding and playing with the kids of course!
Nicole Hurley says
IKEA Me!
Kathi says
“IKEA Me!”
I would use the money in some form to help local inner city schools here in detroit. I recently saw the movie, “Waiting for Superman” and was moved to tears – we really need to do all we can to help improve the American education system…
Kristy says
IKEA ME!
I’d help out our local no-kill animal shelter, and adopt a few more animals of my own.
Kustom Kissers says
IKEA ME!
Stephanie says
IKEA Me! I would spend a year volunteering in low-income neighborhoods to implement/improve after school programs. Kids need role models in order to become great adults!
Kimberly says
IKEA Me!
I was spend the year with homeless animals too, probably through the Wisconsin Humane Society, where three of my five animals are from. My family has such a soft spot for the pets.
Yiqian Barba says
IKEA Me!
I would start a non-profit drama ministry.
Eli says
IKEA Me!
I’d take the year and help my friend launch her non-profit in Nepal, an eco-fashion business that gives women jobs and helps pay to educate orphaned girls.
Melody says
Ikea Me! OMG!
I would start a school for emancipated foster kids–job training, GED, diplomas, college classes, life skills–all the stuff they may have missed out on while being shuffled through the system.
Laura says
IKEA Me!
There’s just so much TO DO!!! I’ve heard of lending micro-loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. For example, I read about a woman in Afghanistan that creates wool yarn for eventual use in textiles. In order to supply her business, she needs a loan from a local company that charges exorbitant interest rates. So, the micro-loan program gives her enough money to buy her materials, and charges a decent interest rate. The difficult part is getting people interested, because the micro-loan company is considered an “outsider” to the community at first.
I get really inspired by underdog stories like this. :)
Raven says
IKEA ME!
I’d go home to South Alabama and help my parents take care of my aging grandparents! It wouldn’t change the world, but it would make life easier for my family!!
Rachel says
IKEA me!
I’d love to spend more of my time helping animals.
Jill M says
IKEA ME!
I would get back into helping rescue dogs.
Rachel says
IKEA Me!
After being forced to become independent (without any help) a couple of week’s after graduation, I moved out with ONLY a couple hundred dollars in my pocket & a bed; no car, no nothing. Only by the grace of God was I able to get through that time alone. It’s a testimony for sure. I’d definitely help at a homeless shelter, as I was thisclose to being homeless myself.
Jennifer S. says
IKEA ME!!!
I would spend a year helping the poor…..soup kitchens, homeless shelters etc.
Shantuck says
IKEA ME! I’m an attorney so I would spend a year providing pro bono legal services to those in need.