*** 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.
Samantha says
Ikea ME !!!
If I had an entire year to devote to helping others I would use it to make the domestic adoption process more affordable and manageable for those who have that as their only option for having children. I would need unlimited funding for this …Mr. Ikea!!!
Jenny Torres says
Ikea me! I would love to spend a year helping habitat for humanity help to rebuild homes that give others a better future!
Jennifer C. says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!!
Hey Youngsters, If I could spend a year volunteering I would work to teach independent living skills to adolescents leaving foster care and form a support group for them.
Or work with Habitat for Humanity rebuilding homes in New Orleans.
Heather D says
IKEA ME!
I would take a year sabbatical to save animals. Anything from joining the crew of Whale Wars to stop the Japanese from hunting whales to taking in foster dogs until they receive forever homes.
Rachel says
ikea me!!!!!
Mark says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year teaching people how to cook good, healthy food on a small budget.
liz @ designing domesticity says
IKEA ME!
Definitely resquing animals, although the last time I went into a resque shelter I came home with a puppy! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Ellie.Crist says
Ikea me!
Angela says
IKEA ME!!!! PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU!!!! :)
I’m not sure right off the bat what I would do with a year to help others but I know for sure that it would be something to help underprivileged kids.
Payal says
IKEA ME!
I think donating to a cause like Veterans Village (San Diego) is something I would want to do.
Amy says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year in Haiti, helping the victims of the earthquake and the recent cholera outbreak
Carrie says
IKEA Me! I’d possibly also like to work in a women’s shelter.
Lisa says
IKEA ME….I would spend a year working with a school program.
Michelle B says
IKEA ME!
Working with women who are victims of domestic violence!
Claire says
Ikea me! I’d like to spend a year working in the area of literacy.
Emily M. says
IKEA ME! OH how I love love love ikea. I would spend a year in a third world country, teaching the people and giving them an education.
Tallin says
IKEA me!
Would love to spend a year getting young kids (and adults!) interested in the history of their community and understanding why preservation is important.
Michelle Cloward says
IKEA ME!!!
I would support a foundation called Project 61 in Ethiopia, where i volunteered this summer. They are doing amazing work for kids!
Angie says
IKEA ME!! I would spend a year working with kids. Probably open an after school program!
ashley says
IKEA ME! without a doubt, no holds barred, no questions asked- if able to take a year off to volunteer.. i would immediately pack my bags and head to Africa to work with children with HIV/AIDS. The first organization that comes to mind would be to work with UNICEF! :)
Kristin says
IKEA ME
I would take a year off to help children in need. Whether it’s food, education, working for an organization to help them find a home.
Leah says
IKEA ME – I would love to be able to devote a year to helping others.
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I would probably donate my time to help a camp for people with special needs.
Michelle Carter says
IKEA ME
I would either volunteer in a nursing home to be with the elderly or I’d work in a school or orphanage with children, both groups need lots of love.
Niki Rimmasch says
IKEA ME!
If I had a year+100,000 I would start up an afterschool program locally that helped in areas such as, tutoring, fitness education and community service.
What an amaxing give-a-way thanks YHL and Ikea for the chance!
caleb says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to work in africa at an orphanage.
Kristen M. says
I would go to a nearby underprivileged school in Los Angeles and volunteer as a reading specialist (my job before staying home with the kiddies). I would do professional development for teachers, run parent workshops and work with children in small groups to help them read on grade level. I passionately feel that education can level the playing ground if the children have the (human) resources they need in their schools.
Now, I am off my soapbox. :)
Crystal says
IKEA ME!!!
Audrey says
IKEA ME!!!!
If I could have one year helping others – I’d volunteer my time and prize money to a woman’s shelter. Help them break away from dangerous lives and learn new skills, new habits, etc. Would also use the $$ to help with counseling abused women and children.
Kim A says
IKEA me!
Megan says
IKEA ME! I would spend a year working to improve literacy rates! While spending my free time on an IKEA sofa! :)
Laura says
IKEA ME!
Since I recently got the ol’ MD, I’d probably spend my year volunteering at a rural health clinic – either in the US or somewhere south of the border.
Angie C says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year raising money to provide care packages for mothers and fathers whose baby has died and to educate others about stillbirth. It would also allow me to be a volunteer photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.
nicole b. says
IKEA ME!
If I could spend a year’s time helping others… I would love to volunteer at an organization based out of my hometown, Little Rock, Arkansas: Heifer International, which is committed to ending poverty and hunger worldwide through charitable gifts of livestock. Whatever they needed me to do, I’d roll up my sleeves and get to work.
Awesome giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!
[email protected]
Crystal says
IKEA ME PLEASE!!
Something to do with either children or houses. I love them both!
Amy Larsen says
IKEA Me!
I already have the great pleasure of spending my years helping kids in my community – I supervise a mentoring program to connect at-risk kids with mentors!
Kristin EM says
IKEA ME!
i’d definitely like to work with children in some way. It’s terrible to think about how many kids, even in the US, don’t get enough to eat or have a safe place to sleep.
Kelsey K says
IKEA ME!!! PLEASE PLEASE!!
I would love to spend a year working with children who have high hopes for being successful in life, but not enough resources to do it (whether that is money, support, transporation, etc.)
Ann says
IKEA me!
I would adopt a low income school and make it fantastic!
Kara C says
IKEA ME!!
I currently work as an educational aide in our public school system. If I could take a year off, I would help the hundreds of kids I see everyday that are neglected and/or abused that the system has failed. I would want to be their voice so they could really get the help that they need to become outstanding citizens and have a real chance.
Sangeeta says
IKEA me!
Due to some personal priorities I will be taking some time off from work. So as an IT professional, any non profit organization that has IT needs, I would love to volunteer my time to it.
Sangeeta
Rose says
IKEA me!
I’d go educate women in South America with this girl: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/when-a-child-moves-to-nepal/
Danielle G. says
IKEA ME! I would work to promote non-profit parent education and support groups for parents of children with autism.
janie says
would love to help in an orphanage :)
Rachel says
“IKEA Me!”
I would love to start a non-profit that focuses on fun fitness for children.
Suzanne says
IKEA me! I have cystic fibrosis, so I’d spend my time and the cash trying to raise awareness/more money for research. :)
Ashley says
IKEA Me!
I’d like to start/help with a non-profit that would deal with children with genetic disorders in small towns. Not very many support groups for kids and their families in rural towns.
Ashley says
Ikea Me!
I would do something to help dogs in need.
Courtney says
Ikea ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
Julia Tomasi says
IKEA me!! So many great causes to choose from… I would love to do something with underpriveleged kids in the state foster system