*** 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.
Jackie says
IKEA ME! AWESOME GIVEAWAY!
I would open a no kill animal shelter and rescue as many homeless animals as possible :)
Milady Griffin says
IKEA me!
Two of my best friends work for Casas por Cristo, an organization that takes groups to Mexico and builds houses for families that can’t do it for themselves and show them love like Jesus while doing it. I’d probably give some money to them and then work with them as well.
Wendy says
IKEA Me! I would spend a year donating my time to help out in the offices of some of my favorite local nonprofits. I know data entry & stuff can be mind-numbing and tedious, but I actually enjoy it and I know there is always clerical stuff to be done, as I’ve worked for 3 nonprofits since college gradation! :)
SweetTxMama says
Ikea Me!
My kids are very fortunate to go to a school with such a great PE coach who has started programs like a jump rope club, jogging club, basketball, & dancing clubs for our elementary students, all free, before & after school. The kids love it & they are so healthy! These kids are going to be active throughout their life and this needs to spread around our country. I would work with him & other schools around the country to get these types of programs started and help to decrease the obesity rate of our nation’s children.
Kelly says
IKEA ME! Move to a foreign country and teach English. Volunteer teach in failing public schools. Go to Africa and work a refugee camp. Don’t make me choose! I need 3 years off!
Christina says
IKEA ME!!!
This is an easy one! I would immediately drop everything and volunteer with the local animal shelter. Those dogs are deserving of a happy fur-ever home and I want to help families out there find their perfect pet just like we found our rescue Lab, Rocky!
Callie says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer to help build new homes!
Sierra Nething says
IKEA ME!! It kills me that in this economy, so many people are losing their jobs, losing their homes due to foreclosure, people are way over their heads in debt, and many people are struggling just to feed their families. I would spend a year giving families free financial advice. Everything from how to save money through learning how to benefit from coupons and sales to how to invest for the future. I want to help people make simple changes in their lives that change their financial destiny.
Lindsey Forester says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend a year helping others I would join my mom in her special ed class…those kids are so fun and sweet!
Kristen says
IKEA Me! I would spend the year helping at a food pantry and shelter in my community.
Megan says
Ikea me!!! I would go to Belize and help orphans there
Susan says
IKEA ME!!! I would work with the elderly especially those who have no one.
Jen says
IKEA ME!
I would do something to help children in need.
ALLIE says
“IKEA Me!”
I would focus on helping others to become debt free and showing them how to live the life that they want to live by partnering with social service organizations. Financial freedom opens up many doors to help others not only for a year, but for a lifetime!
Heather says
IKEA ME!
I would work to help improve our schools – so many in my area are in horrendous shape.
Candice says
IKEA ME!
I would spend it in Bo, Sierra Leone, adding to the Child Rescue Center and hospital.
Stacy Williams says
IKEA Me!
I would start an after school art program in the inner-city.
Sabrina says
IKEA ME! I would spend the year providing support for our teachers in our public schools — they need the help so they can focus on the kids.
Shanee says
Ikea me!!
I would love to help single mothers get the chance to do something for themselves.
Emily H. says
IKEA ME!
I would love to open an after school program to give back to the inner-city school in Brooklyn I used to tutor at.
ashley says
IKEA ME!
Animal Rescue.. fo’sho’!
Liz says
IKEA me!!! Please!
I would donate the money to “The Encounter” (a local faith based non-profit youth center) here in Duluth, MN. I believe in the staff and mission… they need the $.
Ali says
Ikea me
Kelly says
IKEA ME! I would spend my time with a few different projects. First, I’d work with Charity:Water to raise money to bring clean drinking water to villages in Africa. I’d also like to work with children and families to make healthy choices. Lastly, I’d like to work to improve the education of girls and women around the world.
Aaron says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer in a homeless shelter.
Sarah says
Ikea Me, Baby!
I have put a lot of thought into this comment… haha! Of all the causes I am passionate about, Invisible Children takes the cake. I would spend my year touring the country with their Roadies and spreading the word about IC.
courtney says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the year learning about, and then starting a non-profit to educate people about energy efficiency and other ways to empower indivuduals to help improve their world.
Sarah R. says
IKEA ME! I’d love to start an afterschool tutoring program for elementary school-aged kids. What a great idea, Ikea!
Amanda Rae says
IKEA ME!
I’d start a program to teach kids how to cook–these are skills that are disappearing all too fast!
rachel says
IKEA ME!!!
If I could take a year off, I would do HIV education and precevention in Africa. It is a completely preventable disease and yet thousands of people continue to be infected each year.
Maha genetiano says
IKEA me!
This is so funny because I’ve thought about this my whole life, except in relation to winning the lottery. If i didn’t have to worry about money I would like to volunteer for an afterschool program for kids full time. I remember tutoring in high school and it was the greatest feeling seeing kids feel accomplished when they begin to comprehend their studies.
Brianna says
IKEA ME!
If I had the time and the resources, I’d dedicate both towards resucing dogs and rehabilitating those that had been mistreated and abused. I’ve always wanted to be able to do more.
Kristin says
Ikea me! I would volunteer with a domestic violence shelter in my area.
Elizabeth says
IKEA me! A whole year off? I’d split my time between two things: volunteering for my favorite childhood literacy program (which I did for years before I had my own child), and start a nonprofit housing remodel program. Sometimes I sit and dream about starting a rehabbing/remodeling-centered version of Habitat for Humanity, and if I ever win the lottery, you’d better believe that starting that nonprofit is the first thing I’d do (after maying off my own mortgage, that is).
Sally says
IKEA Me! I’d probably be best at rebuilding or replanting areas devastated by disaster – anywhere!
Beth J says
IKEA Me!
I’m so obsessed with that store!!
If I could spend a year helping others, I would support programs that help homeless people get back on their feet. There is a lot of value in shelters and soup kitchens, but I would like to research programs that actively help those who want to change their life situation.
Laurie M. says
IKEA Me!
I would love to help out at an animal shelter.
Christy G. says
“IKEA Me”
Emily says
IKEA ME!!! love love ikea!
I would definitely want to do something related to helping children and education… improving education is huge and needs help!
Lis says
Ikea Me!!
I’d want to spend a year volunteering at an animal shelter!
Mary says
**IKEA ME** Love Love Love Ikea!
And I would Love Love Love to volunteer at our local animal shelter(s)…for more than just a year!!!
Karina says
IKEA ME!
I’ve been wanting to buy my sons bunk beds for a while, this would be awesome! thanks guys!
Kerry says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer all of my time to animal rescue! It would be such a rewarding job!
Leslie says
Ikea Me!
I would start a horse sanctuary where unwanted/abused horses could come to be rehabbed/retrained and hopefully find a forever home.
Heather says
IKEA Me!!!
I would join Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization, building houses for people that have been displaced due to disasters or are otherwise homeless. I have learned so much in the DIY department that it would feel great to put that expertise to good use!! :)
Sydney Ross says
IKEA Me!!
If i could spend a year helping people I would go to Moshi Tanzania and work in an orphanage. I went there in 2005 and I have wanted to go back ever since! Hopefully I will get the opportunity (and get to take my husband and daughter!)
shannon says
IKEA me!
I would love to work helping animals either in a shelter setting or through rescues.
Heather says
Ikea Me!
I’d spend a year helping blind or deaf people, assisting women of domestic violence or being a ‘big sister’ to a youth.
Kevin Hill says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year with City Year, we need all the help we can get in our urban areas.
Tempest says
Oh oh oh! IKEA ME!!!
With a whole year? I’d rescue animals! Have a whole farmload of dogs who need love and a home!