*** 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.
Beth says
IKEA me!
I’d spend the time working with an adult literacy program.
Jeff Schaaf says
“IKEA Me!”
I just saw “Waiting for Superman” last night. If I could spend the entire year helping people, I’d work to get the community involved in our public education system. Teachers can only do so much in the short 6-7 hours that they have the students. Bringing the entire community together to show kids what real role models and successful people look like could go a long way toward their social, emotional, and academic education.
Joseph says
IKEA ME!
Alisha H. says
IKEA ME! I’d love to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity!
brooke says
ikea me!!
i have a special place in my heart for New Orleans. There is still a huge need there, so i would move there and help
Melanie P. says
IKEA Me!
I’d rehabilitate and train shelter dogs to make them more adoptable. I adopted an agressive dog when she was 2 and had her for 10.5 years. Even though she had a brain tumor that caused some of the behavioral problems and ultimately took her too soon, I have seen what love and positive reinforcement can do for a troubled dog. The time spent training and bonding with her was the most rewarding experience of my life.
Jeremy says
IKEA ME!
chm says
IKEA ME!!!
I would spend a year volunteering to help unwed and teen mothers here in New York — so many and so little help for the young moms and their little ones.
Jenny M says
IKEA ME!
I would like to start a program to bring more of the arts into schools. So many of the arts programs have been cut due to budget problems and focus on standardized tests that too many children are growing up without any exposure.
Kristine says
IKEA ME!!!
I would use the one year thing to spruce up churches in the area. As a spouse of a minister I know how important it is for things in churches to be welcoming and warm in order to efficiently minister to and help others. With the economy know, many area churches can’t afford much beyond paying the bills.
I would use the $350 for my son’s big boy room :) LOVE your blog by the way!
Shelly says
IKEA me!
help improve America’s public schools
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year in Northern India volunteering at schools for girls.
Kathryn says
Ikea me!!
I would definitely love to take a year off to be a foster home for rescue dogs or work with a guide dog program.
Elise says
IKEA ME!
It’s a tough call. Teaching is close to my heart, and with a year to myself, I think I’d have to go out and teach math somewhere. Anywhere. Just a year trying to instill in kids the ideas that math is important and cool and that learning in general is something they can come to love.
melanie says
IKEA ME!!!
i’m a huge animal lover so i’d love to volunteer at my local animal shelter.
Michelle I. says
IKEA ME!
I hope to spend next year working with Habitat for Humanity. Restoring people’s faith in secure housing is a concept close to my heart.
Kate S. says
IKEA ME!…I’d open a mentoring program for at-risk youth to prep them for college, both emotionally, academically, and financially.
Clare says
Ikea Me!
Despite working for a non-profit everyday, I’d enjoy that year to get away from my desk and work for the local volunteer organizations that my retired parents get to work with every week – Meals on Wheels, the local soup kitchen, tutoring at the local school, and teaching ESL to adults. I’d love to fill my days with opportunities to support local organizations who just need more helping hands.
Andrea says
IKEA ME!
Paige says
ikea me!
i’d spend the year abroad working for doctors without borders.
sara says
IKEA me!!
I would definitely go on a mission trip!!
Elm says
IKEA Me!!!
I live in a relatively poor state and I would love to volunteer with the local food bank and various organizations that are working on food security.
Emily says
IKEA ME! My husband and I live in a college town and spend a lot of time around students. I would spend the year mentoring college women and helping them develop in different areas of their lives!
Gena says
IKEA ME! I would take the year to educate youth about nutrition and hold workshops teaching parents and kids in low income areas how they can eat better with the budget that they have.
Sara V says
Ikea Me!
It would be really hard to decide. I’d love to find a way to provide mentoring opportunities to at-risk youth, or provide community building a la Harlem Children’s Zone.
Melissa Flory says
IKEA Me! I would spend my time helping grieving children! I am not sure exactly what I would do but my mission would be to support them both in the short and long term as they go through the grieving process.
Heather says
IKEA Me!
Kylee says
IKEA Me!
I would actually stay in my current city of Houston and focus on the homeless and needy that I drive past every day and wish I could do more than give them a dollar!
Tiffany says
IKEA ME! I’d help with stray/rescue animals. It would be great to do some sort of rehab with them and kids/elderly.
Hal says
IKEA ME! I’m a photographer. I think I’d dedicate my time to photographing families and individuals who don’t have the means to pay a professional to do so. I think everyone would be surprised how many people (low income families, orphans, foster kids…) don’t have memories on paper to pass down through the generations.
Deanna says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend more time volunteering for organizations that help transition the homeless or formerly incarcerated citizens back into contributing members of society.
Chelsea says
Ikea me!
I’m not sure I could spend my time helping out only one organization/charity – I would probably jump from one to the next! Habitat for Humanity, Stitches from the Heart, helping out animals, etc. There’s always something to do and someone to help!
Linda says
IKEA Me! I’m not sure how I’d spend a year off. Volunteering with the ASPCA? Helping at a soup kitchen? I’m not sure, but I’d love to have the chance to find out!
Tina Meredith says
“IKEA ME!” Thanks
megn says
Ikea me! Great giveaway! I would spend the year volunteering with education somehow, I’ve been inspired by Waiting for Superman!
Julie says
IKEA ME!
I would absolutely LOVE to spend a year at New Life Homes in Kenya. What a cool project from Ikea!
Adriana says
IKEA me!
I would really like to help those involved in rape recovery–something along the lines of community outreach and education for junior high and high school students or even college students.
Dana says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!
1 year? Two words: Haiti. Relief.
nicky says
IKEA ME!
if i had the free time (and money) to start something to help others, it would be an organization to help parents of kids with special needs get through some of the tougher times (hospital stays, NICU, etc.) like preparing meals, running errands, info/resources, counseling.
Rita says
IKEA ME!
I would donate my win to my daughter and hubby who run a non-profit in Amherst, MA.
Sarah R. says
Ikea me please!
If I had a year off I’m not sure what I’d do but it would probably involve helping struggling mothers. Mama power!
Chris from Cali says
IKEA ME!!
I’d go back into teaching!!
Alissa says
IKEA MEEEEEEE!!
If I had a year and unlimited resources, I’d return to Uzbekistan, where I was a Peace Corps volunteer 12 years ago, to work in the schools. Extra-curricular activities for the kids, in-service training for the teachers, and (if there were the funds!) infrastructure upgrades for all of the many schools with no heat during the freezing winters.
Bea says
IKEA Me! :-)
I’d spend a year researching and summarizing the highest-impact ways to give money to help people in the developing world, write it up, and make the guide public.
aaroohii says
IKEA ME!
I would help bring our troops home, the war led us to recession, other countries hate America. Its time to redo all that wrong actions done unto others.
Bringing our troops home would also result in less money spent on war and our economy would boost once again. Other countries would stop hating us and won’t plan to attack us again. Its all gains and no looses.
Katie M. says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer with early headstart to help with the little tinys!
Bridget says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year helping kids in inner city schools. As a high school teacher myself, I know kids can achieve anything when given the proper opportunities and support.
Angela says
IKEA ME! :)
I would love to start a fully-subsidized after school/summer camp program for inner-city youth.
Mary says
IKEA ME!
I would have to say I’d really love to go live in Guatemala, or somewhere that really needs a hand or two – either building school houses or medical facilities or just plain houses. There are so many needs that need supplying.
Lisa R. says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would really like to help out w/ Habitat for Humanity – enjoy helping others, and get skills to do it at home myself when all is done…win, win. ;)