*** 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.
Lindsey R says
IKEA ME!! I’d want to make it possible for parents with children that are Dead to learn sign language (you’d be amazed at how many never learn!) and also hook their house up with lots of awesome technology that is available-and fosters independence! (video phones, vibrating alram clocks, etc, etc!)
Jess E says
IKEA ME pretty pretty please!
If I could take a year off without having to worry about money, I would spend it volunteering at a health center. There are a ton of health centers that can always use help with filing, outreach, etc!
Kellie D. says
“IKEA Me!” If only I could take a year off, I would love to work with teens in some sort of after school program. Those are the toughest years, and I think everyone can benefit from a little extra guidance!
Carrie says
Ikea me! I honestly don’t know what I would do- there are so many things. I’d love to work for habitat for humanity, but I’d also love to teach high risk kids in the city or organize after school programs for them. I wish I were a doctor, so I could work for doctors without borders, but I guess I’ll just have to leave that to the qualified!
Tara says
I’d take courses to become a master herbalist and then I’d share the wealth (of knowledge of course); so many people don’t realize how easily most health problems can be solved without side effects by using completely safe, natural and inexpensive herbs.
Sherri says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at my kids’ underfunded public school!
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend a year helping others I would try to organize a hearing aid donation program and give them to deaf children all over the world who can’t afford them.
Dana says
IKEA Me!
If I had a year off, I believe I would do a combination of things like volunteering at hospitals, with the homeless and at animal shelters.
Lindsay says
Ikea Me!
As an (almost) lawyer, I would definitely dedicate the year to doing pro bono work especially for children and women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse.
katie@Impatientlyprayingforpatience says
IKEA ME!
If I had one year to help others…I would go to the school that was just dedicated to my dad that fairly recently passed away. I would take my boys to the school in the Dominican Republic and show them how other kids really have nothing. I would help teach those kids how much the Lord loves them and that they are each special in the eyes of the Lord.
Taylor Jo says
IKEA ME! I would use the money to start up a cooking program to teach kids about healthy eating and get them to use ingredients that they might find weird or scary.
Dawn says
IKEA me! I love me some IKEA therapy!!
emily says
IKEA me!
i’d use the money to help low-income families establish a home base through starting a non-profit that provides bed frames, mattresses, living room essentials, a dining room table and proper utensils in the kitchen.
Aja says
IKEA ME!
Woo hoo! I would go overseas somewhere to work with an orphanage.. anything with kids!
Silvia says
Ikea me! I would spend a year encouraging underprivileged middle and high school students to get excited about and study environmental science and help their planet!
Susan says
Ikea me!
I lost my brother in Afghanistan 3 years ago. He left behind 3 little girls. I would help children of fallen soldiers and work with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors *TAPS* to help support families who have lost a love one in combat.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave
clare icitea says
IKEA me!!!
And I’d spend a year volunteering in Africa with my inlaws: they live there as teachers at a school. Or I could work on at the local hospital helping out the terminally ill; the last time I went there really moved me.
kristi says
IKEA ME! :)
If I could take a year off, I would love work with the local animal shelter and help them raise funds for a bigger facility and assist with spay/neuter programs so that there isn’t such a huge need for their services.
Melissa Phifer says
IKEA me!
Amy says
IKEA Me!
I would do something to help animals…
jonathan says
IKEA ME!
Dominique says
IKEA me!
I would love to work at an exotic animal rescue center for a year.
jill says
IKEA Me! Well, I’ve already taken this year and last year out to help my own family. I’ve been staying home with our boys. That said, if I could take another year (and have some money to help me) I would think of a way to help stay-at-home parents. Only parents that do this on a day to day basis know the challenges that come with it. Stay-at-home parents need love, too! :)
Elizabeth Deegan says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at our local homeless shelter that has an incredible after school program for kids!
Kaleena Edwards says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year working with orphans in China. There are so many orphans in the world who need love. Plan on adopting one day!
Elizabeth T says
IKEA Me….I would make over my husbands toy room. Yikes!
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year working with an organization like that helps victims of human trafficking.
Briana says
IKEA ME! I would set up some sort of art and music music education program for kids…
Natalie R. says
IKEA ME! I think I would most want to spend the time volunterring in an orphange.
edith says
ikea me!
Tessa says
IKEA me!
I would probably do something similar to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. I’d like to change the public school food systems for good!! No more frozen cardboard meals with no nutritional value or taste. I’d also like to teach people how to cook fresh and healthy foods for their families.
Lindsay says
IKEA me!
My passion is working with low-SES families and children who have hearing loss, so I’d spend a year setting up some rural outreach/traveling healthcare programs.
Sarah says
IKEA Me!
I would take my husband and go on a medical mission trip.
Jes says
IKEA ME!!!!
My hubby and I dream about this all the time – We think it would be a hoot to spend a year volunteering in underperforming elementary schools. My hubby is a high school english teacher and you wouldn’t BELIEVE how many of his students get to the 11th grade and can’t read!! It’s heartbreaking. We fantasize about opening a school someday – so spending a year working with these kids would be a dream come true.
Janna says
IKEA ME!!!
I would definitely work with children in some capacity. Since I’m into nutrition I might spend a year working on getting healthy meals to impoverished children in 3rd world countries…something like that :)
Lucie says
IKEA Me!
I’d rescue animals.
Suni says
IKEA ME! I would work with ACS to help find a cure for cancer.
Rachel says
Ikea me! I am a counselor and would love to to start an organization for women who are trying to get back on their feet after difficult life circumstances. This organization would go beyond the basics of food and shelter. It would also provide therapy and counseling services, childcare, parenting classes, resume assistance, interview training and last but not least, it would give them a start on their professional wardrobe by giving them a brand spanking new suit to wear to their interviews. It’s the whole “teach a man to fish” philosophy I guess, only in this case we would be teaching a woman to fish :)
Lesley Greiner says
Ikea me!! I would love to work with children in some capacity–either with some orphanages in Kazakhstan that we have already been involved with or through developing literacy programs–or a combination of the two!
Eric says
IKEA ME!
I would start a non-profit or work with a pre-established organization that provides financial mentoring to underprivileged high school students. So many of these kids only see poor examples of finances from their parents or guardians so I would like to help them understand how to use their money wisely.
Amber says
“IKEA ME” I would love to help those with Cancer or Lupus since that is something I know something first hand about due to ill family members. I would also like to speak to younger children about the risks involved in drunk driving. Just being able to make someone’s day a little brighter or bringing awareness to a certain topic would be amazing.
Julia says
IKEA ME!
…and I would spend the year setting up a school in an underprivileged communiity.
Carrie says
Okay, I know I already entered, but I thought of what I’d really like to do. I’d like to organize a book program to provide prisons and juvenile detention center with gently used and donated books. I even have a name for it- books behind bars.
Amy says
IKEA ME!
I would wait like to be part of doctors without borders
Bryan says
Ikea me!
As a firefighter I would take the year to help battle wildfires across the country.
Tara says
IKEA Me!
I forgot to put that! Does it really make a difference? I hope it doesn’t now count as two entries! I’d delete one but um, don’t know how…sorry.
Alexis C says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year working in medicine that assists the underserved.
Chris Edwards says
IKEA ME! I am a programmer, so I would love to take time building websites for non-profits so that they can get more support through raising awareness of themselves online.
Karen says
Ikea Me!!!
tammy says
IKEA me!!
I would help develop a program that put parents of disabled kids in touch with services in their areas. I have two special needs kids and you have no idea how hard it is to find out what is available!