*** 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.
Liz B. says
IKEA Me!
I would spend time working with high school and middle school students. Get them to understand they aren’t the only ones with problems, that they can ask for help, and it’s ok not to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Alicia says
IKEA ME!!!
Jermaine D says
IKEA ME! If I had a year off I would love to use it investing in people’s lives overseas, maybe help out fair trade artisans in India.
Stephanie Phillips says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year rotating through the Ronald McDonald House program throughout the US. I would simply volunteer myself in whatever way they needed me. They were a HUGE help during the time my girls spent in the NICU.
Sarah says
IKEA ME!
I would choose to work with abandoned or neglected animals if I had a year to do something better.
Megan S says
Ikea Me! I would spend a year helping Veterans upon their return from duty. Thanks so much :)
Erin C. says
IKEA ME! I would travel and meet and work with overseas missionaries through my church. I love to learn about different cultures.
Jessica E says
IKEA me!!! I can’t just pick ONE cause, I’d want to spread out my money and my time!
Vonda says
IKEA ME!
Lisa L. says
IKEA ME…animal shelter, hands down.
Nawal says
Youngsters…IKEA ME!!!!!
I would love to spend a year working with a foundation that has always inspired me; Operation Smile! It is a wonderful foundation that provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide!
Cheryl Swimming says
Ikea me…
If I had $100,000 to spend helping others I would probably use it to open a college fund for under-priviledged high schoolers.
:)
Cheryl
Miranda says
If I had the means, I would create a foundation which would benefit the children victims of violent crimes and, in some cases, their families. I read these stories all the time about, you know, children thrown off a bridge or the little guy who told his Grandma “Momma’s in the rug” and it just breaks my heart. But there’s never any follow-up. If I could, I would create an online mechanism, similar to a blog. I’d reach out to these families, and allow them to share their stories, how they’re doing now. I’m a writer, so I’d compile these stories, and with permission, post them for others to be uplifted, know they’re not alone, know where there’s a continued need that a reader might be able to help meet. I’d use the money to set up a foundation that would distribute money to help with scholarships, medical expenses and/or memorial services for participating families. Of course, there’d be a way for people, charities or businesses to donate to the cause at any time.
Liz H says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d love to start a non-profit organization to help the families of children with cancer or other severe illness. So often, even if these families have health insurance, they are left with tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars of medical bills
Jennifer S says
IKEA Me! I would love to work with Habitat for Humanity because it just looks like a lot of fun and hard work or with the Human Society. We rescued our dog from the Human Society and if wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have such a great dog that loves us until no end. Both organizations do such great work and make this world a better place :)
Curtis says
IKEA ME!!!
MegMD says
IKEA ME! I would take a year either working on our non-profit historical community theater’s building or put the money into revitalizing the run-down areas in our community…or put together an organization that connects local chefs and farmers to offer healthy, fresh food at local restaurants while helping the local economy. Hmm, which to choose?!
Autumn Penz says
Ikea Me! I would love to do a year long “mission trip” to another country…
Allie K says
Ikea Me! I would love to spend a year helping wounded veterans.
ely says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year working with Seattle Youth Garden Works. I had a friend work with them for a year, and it seems like a really worthwhile organization. They do job-training in urban agriculture that SYGW provides for homeless and at-risk youth in Seattle.
Jenny says
IKEA ME!! I’d spend more time working with the youth at our church.
micaela says
IKEA ME!
I’d maybe help provide medical treatment and supplies in Haiti. I have some nurse friends that do that and I’d love to help support them.
Mallory says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to spend a year volunteering in a crisis pregnancy center.
Beverly Weber says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the year working at crisis pregnancy centers, hopefully using my skills as a photographer to promote family.
Lisa says
IKEA ME!!!
Kate says
Ikea Me! I would take my year to lobby to get a national mandate for infertility coverage…
jenn says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year working on to get kids involved in both the arts and outdoors — maybe at the same time! Both subjects are sorely neglected in many schools.
Kate @ Twenty-Six To Life says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely spend that year working with rescue animals!
Stephanie says
IKEA ME!!!
Jessica Horton says
IKEA ME!
I’d probably go back to Haiti!
Tegan M. says
IKEA Me!
If I had an entire year to spend, it would have to be over seas. Maybe Africa, helping in a school or something. Wait, are there volunteer opportunities in the Caribbean? That would work too… :)
Meredith says
“IKEA me!” I’d love to work with Habitat for Humanity in a foreign country!
whitney says
IKEA ME PLEASE!
I would spend time raising money for students who can’t afford to purchase new wheelchairs to accomadate their growing bodies and needs.
Emily R. says
Ikea Me!
I would love to spend a year working on a literacy outreach program for children…or an animal rescue facility.
Anna says
IKEA ME!!! I would be interested in doing something to benefit kids. Whether it be opening a day care center or after school program or building playgrounds in areas where there are none…kids deserve safety and a great place to let their imaginations run wild!
Brittany says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!
Ahh the ideas are overwhelming. I want to say I would volunteer at a teen crisis hotline at night (perhaps the Trevor Project?) and spend the days working on homes with the hubby for Habitat.
Miranda says
oh, and Ikea me!
Alison says
IKEA ME! I would love to spend the year working with the animal shelters in Las Vegas – they have got some serious problems, I would love to help the animals.
Jennifer says
IKEA ME! If I could take a year off…I would do traveling art classes at schools that cannot afford programs. I really believe that art gives children a voice that they may not feel they have otherwise!
Sonia says
Ikea Me!
I would volunteer with Save the Children to work with their programs in Southesat Asia
Megan says
IKEA me!
Corri Cole says
IKEA Me! Please :) I’d probably take a year to work at the nearby army medical centers to give back what my Dad’s military lifestyle gave to me over the years.
Rebecca says
IKEA ME! I’m SAHM and I don’t want to leave that for a year. ;)That being said, I’d love to work with a breastfeeding advocacy group like Best For Babes.
Naomi says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend a year teaching science to underprivileged children
Carrie says
IKEA ME! I would work on building clean water sources in Costa Rica.
Lisa McCown says
IKEA ME!!! I am in the middle of move this would be great to help furnish it!
Ashton says
IKEA ME!!!
I would teach music in the inner city. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do :)
Jennifer B says
Ikea ME!!! I would use the money to throw a gigantic party for the homeless. THink about it…when’s the last time they had cake???
Mary Ellen says
IKEA me! If I had one year, I’d love to spend it volunteering with the American Cancer Society.
Leanne says
IKEA me!
I’m a psychologist, so getting to spend a year *really* helping others would be awesome. I’d love to learn more about the Changing Faces campaign in the UK (http://www.changingfaces.org.uk/Home) and how to adapt it for use here in the US. Or, I could on my other dream project, a membership based free trade-in center for gently-used baby clothes, toys, and other equipment so it could be shared for all with less waste.