*** 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…
******************************
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.
Natalie says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely spend the year doing Boxer (the dog, not the athlete..haha) Rescue. We have two “babies” currently & I am always wishing we could do more to help.
Christy says
IKEA ME!
I would help educate teenage girls about domestic violence and abuse.
BrassyDel says
IKEA ME! I would love to volunteer with shelter animals again.
Trish says
Ikea Me!
I would love to help obtain and distribute gently used books to all kids who don’t have the opportunity to get books.
Lauren H. says
IKEA ME!!
I would definitely do missions overseas. Maybe doing something in south america at an orphanage!
Margaret says
IKEA ME!
With a year to give to my community I would teach art classes to underpriviledged children.
Vanessa says
IKEA me! I think I would best like to travel to another country and teach children anything that I had enough knowledge about to share.
Alex Romano says
Ikea Me!!
Oh how I love Ikea!
I’d start a young moms group to help them learn basics of child care. It’s tough being a mom with all the available resources, I can’t imagine being young and with no help.
Jillian says
IKEA ME!
I would love to help stop animal cruelty, find shelter animals homes as well as the proper training they need.
Katee says
Ikea Me! I haven’t really thought much about it. i think I would like to do something at the local level–having art programs/athletic programs for low income families.
Melissa says
IKEA Me!
I would probably do something related to kids…maybe an after-school program with plays or arts and crafts or music.
Kelli says
IKEA ME! My husband and I would spend the whole year serving with Del Corazon de Jesucristo in the Dominican Republic. http://www.delcorazon.org/
Joelle says
ikea me! wow, i think i’d split my year into 4 sections. I’d love to help out an orphanage in haiti perhaps (my husband and I are adopting our first child so it’s near to my heart). Then maybe helping rebuild houses somewhere that needs it (new orleans, haiti, etc). then i’d like to help animals perhaps with a rescue shelter. Lastly, I’d like to help out women of underdeveloped nations, teaching them to read, get jobs etc.
Elizabeth Rich says
IKEA ME!
I would love to spend a year volunteering with sick children at area hospitals.
Michelle B says
IKEA ME!!!
Would spend a year helping animals in some fashion.
Abbie says
IKEA Me! If I could take a year off, I would move to the DR with my husband and help improve quality of life.
Victoria C says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely take a year to help feed the homeless and needy in our city.
Rian says
Ikea me (please)! I would love to spend a year serving and ministering to others at a homeless shelter.
Dana says
IKEA ME!!
I would rescue animals. No doubt about it!
Amanda culver says
IKEA ME!!
If u could spend one year helping others I would spend the time helping at risk teens, I think sometimes life seems so hard and people need someone to show them it can get better.
Biljana says
IKEA ME!! Please. Thank you!!!
Christine says
Ikea Me!!! I would split my time between working with animals and young adults.
Kim says
Ikea me!
I would definitely do something rescuing boxers (the dog breed)… I’m such a boxer lover :)
Melo says
Ikea me!
DH and I spent 2 years in the Peace Corps (Rural Community Development) and enjoyed it greatly. Certainly a LIfe Improvement Project!
If I could do another Life Improvement year, it would be either:
1. Leading healthy habits panels and physical activities for inner-city families (with the objective of reducing the obesity epidemic); or
2. I would set up a non-profit for free college and scholarship guidance for inner-city youth (many don’t apply to college because they don’t know how to and many more don’t apply to scholarships because they believe they are not deserving enough.)
Angela says
Ikea me!
I’d spend a year helping animals in need.
abby says
Ikea me!
I would go back to the children’s home in Eastern Europe where I volunteered for a few months earlier this year
Mark F says
IKEA Me! I would volunteer my time with Habitat for Humanity!
Joanna says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a year off, there is an orphanage in the Ukraine that I would love to collect and deliver donations to.
Karisa says
IKEA Me!…if i could spend a year helping others I would teach art to children all over the US. It seems like these days there are never enough supplies or time for children in public schools to make art.
Melanie says
Ikea me!
I would take the year to serve families with disabled children. They have their hands even more full than I do with my three young kids!
Zara Bode says
IKEA Me!
I think I would spend the year bringing vintage music (swing, country, old-time) to nursing homes, and assisted living homes for the elderly. After assisting my Grandmother through her passing, I saw the system as such a strange and sterile place, where art and stimulation, and activities reminiscent of the residents past were not embraced, or rarely offered. Bringing music to assist in a hospice fashion, or just setting up weekly musical performances to keep folks engaged, would seem like a really fulfilling project.
Kate says
IKEA ME!
I’m already helping others (indirectly) by doing scientific research to help find possible drug targets for new obesity and diabetes drugs
Janette says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely help at low-income Elementary Schools. My mom works at one and I’ve seen firsthand how little resources and money they have available to them.
Julia says
Please please please IKEA me! My dream would be to start a self-esteem/respect camp for teenage girls.
Mollie says
IKEA ME!
Alana says
IKEA ME!
I would spend the year helping unemployed people in my community. Organize jobs skills training events and also teach people how to use all the job searching materials that are out there.
Val says
Oh please please please IKEA ME!
If I had a year off to volunteer, I’d spend it in New Orleans. I would love to go build some of those Brad Pitt houses.
stephanie Cisneros says
IKEA ME!
if i do something for someone else.. I would open a free clinic that would help adults and children. This has always been a dream of mine, but sadly it just can not happen right now.
Malissa says
Ikea Me!
I would use the money to develop a respite care program in my area for the parents of children with special needs. This organization would offer fun activities to these children so their parents can have a well deserved night off.
April says
IKEA ME!
If I could take a one-year sabbatical, I would spend the time working with children who don’t have positive adult role models to help give them a shot at a better way of life.
Ashleigh Mathews says
IKEA ME! If I could take a year off, I would spend my time with a new organization in my area called Inland NW Baby ( http://www.inlandnwbaby.org/) Founded by a local 14 year old boy, Inland NW Baby provides essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, hygiene items and gently used clothing and equipment.
Alexia says
IKEA Me! – if I could take a year off work I would go on a mission trip and let others know about the glory of God.
Samantha says
IKEA me! This sounds like a fantastic program. I would really like to take a year off and do something amazing. I think I would want to help end the extreme poverty and homelessness that faces this country. It’s a major issue, and one that is generally pushed under the rug.
Lara says
IKEA ME!
I would take a year off to volunteer at public schools in inner-city populations (NYC, Chicago, LA). I worked at a public school in NYC as a school psychologist until this summer (I moved out of the city) and those schools need all of the volunteer help they can get!
Lori says
IKEA me!
If I could spend one year helping others… I would provide therapy services to individuals with brain injuries that are uninsured or cannot afford intensive therapy services!
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!!!! If I could spend a year volunteering my time I would create a not-for-profit bookstore. I truly believe in the power of written word. I believe I could make up a really cool program that would encourage adults and children alike to dive into reading. Plus the money that I would make, I would host classes that would teach people to read and write.
Brittney P says
IKEA ME: I would be a foster mom or a host parent for an exchange student.
Meagan Jenks says
Ikea Me!
I would aboslutely love to spend the year volunteering with Green Peace (if they would have me)
Jessica B. says
IKEA Me! If I had a year, I’d help teach underprivileged children in my city to read better and develop a passion for learning!
Leeanne Seely says
IKEA ME! I would do something with hungry babies–after having my first this year, I get so sad to think of moms struggling to feed their kids and would like to make a difference.