*** 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.
Stephanie C. says
IKEA me! I would work with the charter schools in New Orleans to up the ante and help students reach academic success through a multi-faceted approach that includes counseling, mentoring programs, community service, social justice action, tutoring, and exercise.
Cece says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would love to spend a year working with the elderly. From visiting those feeling isolated in homes to playing bingo with the local senior center. I really miss my grandparents these days and would love to spend more time with some “adopted” ones!
Audry says
IKEA Me!
It would be wonderful to spend part of the time working with an adult literacy program, and the other portion with an animal shelter.
Eileen says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely do something with children, probably within the adoption/foster care system.
Tricia says
IKEA Me! I would spend my year helping teen mothers…. from prevention of pregnancy to how to cope/parent after the child is born.
Brie says
IKEA me
I’d provide play therapy services for free to Children in third world countries
Gillian says
IKEA me! I would start after school programs at junior high and high schools that focuses on building self esteem and comradery among teen girls.
Cara says
?IKEA ME!
I’d take a year and work with orphans, i love kids!
Marissa says
I would work at a community health clinic in the US or abroad helping people get much needed health care!
Rebekah says
Ikea me! I would help impoverished students to read.
Shannon says
IKEA Me!
If I could take a one year sabbatical to help others I would spend the year educating people about the benefits of micro loans and how they provide capital to help jump-start small businesses.
Sarah Wickersham says
IKEA Me!
I am a teacher from a very blessed school district and would love to travel around the US or just directly in my state and help schools spruce up their literacy programs, which is my passion!
Vanessa says
IKEA Me!
With one year off to make a difference, I would continue my work teaching holistic animal wellness, but to large groups of individuals and shelters in hopes of encouraging a better and healthier way of life for all animals.
kathleen says
IKEA ME!! If I could take a year off, I would go down to New Orleans and help get families back into their homes.
Andrea says
IKEA ME!
As a teacher I see the need for more help with the youngest learners
Jarrod says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely help out my favorite charity, Heart of the Bride, building orphanages and relationships with orphanages in third world countries.
Sandra P. says
Ikea ME! I would help the needy families around the South Texas area, with whatever they may need. There are so many people in our own cities/towns, you just need to take the time to give a helping hand!
Brigid says
Ikea Me! I would spend a year working on creating community gardens (both rain gardens and vegetable gardens) with youth in my community.
Kate M says
IKEA ME!!
I’d love to work with children, perhaps in a third-world country, teaching them and providing them with whatever necessities they need.
natalie says
Ikea me!!
roman says
IKEA ME!!!!
Marissa says
Whoops forgot to mention,
IKEA me!
Julie says
IKEA ME!
I would go back to Germany!
Audrey says
IKEA ME!!!
I would see where the need is and head in that direction.
Kelly says
IKEA ME! I would love to raise money for underprivilaged schools in my area. My children attend an amzing school that exceeds their fundraising goals each year and last year we even had a PTA meeting simply to decide what to do with the surplus! However, my cousin teaches at a school that does not have the financial or parental support we do. Those kids miss out on extra “special” classes and access to computers. A big reason we bought this home is our schools and I wish everyone could be as blessed as we are.
Margarita W. says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year helping animals in my community and surrounding areas find forever homes and helping my local Habitat for Humanity build homes for families. Of course, I would want my carpenter husband to join me.
Valentina says
IKEA me!
If I could take a year sabbatical, I would work with foster teens and start a camp to help with their transitional goals/adoptions!
April Bryan says
IKEA ME!!!
If I had one year to help others I would start an art therapy program to where I can help kids who have difficulties or problems in life deal with it through art. Being an art teacher I have seen it work and it is amazing!
Danielle says
“IKEA Me!”
I would spend the year volunteering with/for St. Jude Children’s Hospital OR working with underprivileged children in my local area.
Brittany Iverson says
IKEA ME!!!!
If I could spend 1 year helping others, I would volunteer at the local Boys & Girls clubs and other organizations that work with the under privileged youth. I feel that too many children are left to fend for themselves and even if I made a difference in one child’s life it would be worth it for me.
Leah says
IKEA Me!
As an avid reader myself, I would try to work on improving literacy rates by volunteering at libraries, schools, etc.
kimberly says
IKEA ME!
I would incorporate the things I know and like (baking, cooking, musical instruments) and try to enrich the lives of either the very young or the elderly.
Jil says
Ikea Me!!!!
I have worked with several nonprofit organizations as a behavioral health educator for adolescents and teens. If I had $100,000 I would love to begin my life long dream of creating a teen run helpline for adolescents and teens. I find that when it comes to helping teens, the people that they listen intently to is other teens, so I would love to have highly trained teens act as a support for other teens in need of help.
Jesse says
IKEA me!!
If I had a year for charity I would spend it in Africa doing ob/gyn work!
Rebecca says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer at an animal shelter!
Jess says
Ikea Me! I’d work with women’s education around the world and work to raise funds to promote equal opportunities for women.
Z says
IKEA me!
… And I’d probably do something Medicine-without-Borders-esque – I’ve already done one medical mission trip which was amazing, would love to have the time to do more!
Sarah says
IKEA ME!!!!! I am going on a trip to IKEA in 3 weeks and could definitely use this! I would definitely do something related to animals… I love them!
Melanie says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year and $100,000 working on developing the TriROK Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit started outside Boston by a group of friends last year. TriROK’s mission is to fight childhood obesity one child and one family at a time by getting them involved in the sports of swimming, biking and running…at no cost to the family!
Emily says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or something similar…. helping families have homes and setting them up with programs to keep those homes
Michelle says
IKEA ME!
It would be so hard for me to choose! Some ideas: join the peace corps, start a program for high-risk young girls to develop positive body image and self-confidence, volunteer as a foster parent, work for a program that helps so many of the unemployed in the state I live…there are just so many options, the hard part would be choosing just one.
maggie says
IKEA me!
I’d spend the year travelling with Soles4Souls, an organization that distributes shoes to developing areas across the world.
Brittany says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year raising money for arts education in schools. Music and art education was so important for me, and public school systems are so severely underfunded that they are forced to cut these programs.
Kari says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer my time in Guatemala with children in need.
Roger Balwinski says
IKEA Me!
Leigh Ann says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend time coordinating a volunteer program for people to assist teachers. I’m a teacher and I know if I could get some help with the basic stuff (copying, grading, etc.)– then I could really do a lot more to assist the students.
Jenet says
IKEA Me!
I’m not sure what I would do since it seems like so many causes need all the help they can get, but I would most likely do something involving protecting the environment.
kia says
Ikea Me! I’d spend the time working with young moms on parenting skills. We’d cover things like healthcare and nutrition, the importance of reading, playing and talking to babies, as well as how to obtain baby gear and clothes at little to no cost by shopping craigslist, thrift and consignment stores and church donations.
Michael says
Ikea Me!!!! Watching you on Nate right now :)
Kelsey says
IKEA ME!!!!!!!!
If I could spend a year helping people? I’d spend it doing a variety of things, from Soup Kitchens to Free Clinics to Senior Centers.