*** 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.
Marcy says
Ikea me!
I would volunteer at the library or support some green initiatives. I haven’t ever considered it.
Aimee Gaston says
IKEA ME! I would start a program that would provide books for children to have at home.
Lesley says
IKEA ME! please :)
I would take the time off work and volunteer for our local American Cancer Society by working with cancer patients. They have great programs, especially one for women called “Look good, Feel better” which shows women going through treaments how to apply makeup, fix their wigs, and skin therapy to make themselves feel beautiful. It’s amazing to watch their faces as they find that self confidence again
Cristel says
IKEA Me! If I could take a year off, I would split my time as a volunteer at our inner city Children’s Hospital which focuses on providing quality care to some of the city’s most vulnerable children and my city’s local CASA organization, which serves children entering the foster care system. There is a lot of overlap between the organizations.
Aly says
IKEA me! I’d probably spend a year helping with rescue animals and if I had a large home foster some.
Julie says
IKEA ME!!
keri says
IKEA me! So many things I’d love to do to help out…don’t know where to start.
meredith says
Ikea Me! If I could take a year off to help others I would…I would teach at risk kids how to read and write.
Lisa A says
IKEA Me!
I would spend the time in homeless shelters or missions.. I think I would organize a career day type thing which would help people get back on their feet… put together resumes, give away gently used donated business clothing, practice interviewing, offer job searching assistance, as well as healthy food, general grooming, etc…
Casey says
IKEA Me!
We just moved into a new house & could really use this to jazz up the place.
Val says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at an animal shelter or would like to start a Great Dane rescue.
pam w. says
IKEA me! I’d love to spend some time working in animal rescue.
su says
IKEA Me!
I would work with elementary schools in under privileged areas in my area to find nutritious alternatives for school lunches.
Also, I’d volunteer with anything to do with the VA.
Thanks!
Bree says
IKEA ME!!
I would love to go abroad and work in an orphanage with small children.
Lydia says
IKEA Me!
I would volunteer at local animal shelters. I LOVE animals- I have 3 rescued cats. I’d love to go around my local community hosting/promoting events to raise money for local shelters and to promote spay/neuter awareness.
Kate V says
IKEA ME ! I would volunteer for the Jean Jugan Residents. It’s a nursing home run by nuns. My grandmother lived in a one of their homes and loved being there and I know it would mean a lot to her.
Mindi says
Ikea Me! I would spend a year helping people with their personal finances. Show people how to organize their budgets, grocery shop on the cheap, create stockpiles, etc.
Melanie Logan says
IKEA ME!
I would work with teen mothers. I would help them gain the skills that they need to survive life on their own with a baby. I would also love to work with families that need help getting their children back after they have been put in to states custody. As a social worker I have learned that a lot of people just lack the life skills to properly care for children. For the ones that love their kids and just need help getting it right I would like to help them.
Lynn says
Ikea me…wouldn’t that be a dream come true?
I would let my husband take a year off of teaching and we could spend a year immersed in the ministries of our church that are changing lives in our community. We have to limit what we can do to keep our schedule rolling, and having both of us home for a year would give us a chance to devote more time to church and family.
CarrieJo says
IKEA ME!
I would go overseas and feed the hungry….in our country we have a problem with people having too much food while other countries have a problem with not having enough food…yes I would feed the hungry…and LOVE on them!
Emily says
IKEA Me!
That’s one to ponder… probably something to do with either education or health (or both!) – those are two passions of mine.
Melissa Woodley says
IKEA ME!!!!! :)
Sheena says
IKEA Me!
gosh, this is fabulous. if I could take a year off I would work at starting my own business – which would be to help my creative friends succeed in their businesses. my dream.
Kikka says
IKEA me!
I would like to work with illiterate children.
Kathryn says
IKEA Me!
I’d volunteer with my local Engineers Without Borders chapter, either working on one of their water distribution projects in India or El Salvador, or on a solar-powered community building in Kenya.
Bridget says
IKEA Me! I would like to spend a year in Nicaragua providing special education services. I teach preschool special education, and I see the power that early intervention holds. However, special education services like those found in the U.S. simply don’t exist in some other countries. After spending some time in Nicaragua this summer, it seems like a good place to get started on this dream. :)
Rachel K. says
IKEA me! I would create an animal sanctuary for any animal that needed it.
angel p says
Ikea Me!
Katie says
IKEA me!!
I am a school teacher, so if I had the year off I would still be in the classroom providing support and extra hands for the teachers!
Ashlee says
IKEA ME!!
I would do something with children. Not sure what, though.
Lauren says
IKEA ME!!! With a year off I would focus my energy into working with autistic individuals or people with special needs. A lot of times they are overlooked and I want them to feel like they have a place, and that they’re not invisible or insignificant.
Katie @ Katie Beth Interiors says
IKEA ME:
I would want to work with kids/families in need of nutritional or exercise help. It pains me to see children suffering from obesity and I think there are plenty of ways to incorporate healthy habits for kids that don’t have to cost a ton!
Maritel says
“IKEA Me!”
If I could take a year off, I would help inner city kids with an after school program.
Elleana says
IKEA Me!
I’d take a year to help feed families. There are too many who are going without!
Jodi says
IKEA Me! If I could take a year off, I’d set up a non-profit metro-wide volunteer organization to assist older citizens in our community. From weekly visits to assisting with grocery store visits, transportation to Bingo or church or helping with laundry….We can learn so much from the generations that came before us. I feel in my heart this would be a WIN/WIN! I would hope for this program to be a model program that would then expand throughout our state and eventually throughout the country! (and you two were so cute on Nate’s show today!)
Kristin says
IKEA Me!
I’d work in (or start) an inner city day care center.
kelly says
ikea me! i’d give free legal aid
Elizabeth says
“Ikea Me!!” I would start a charter school in my area that served all children regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
Zhaleh says
IKEA ME! Volunteer at a healthcare clinic in an under-served area.
Naomi S says
IKEA Me!
If I could take a year off, I would work on improving the health of a community through exercise programs, healthy eating, and community gardens.
AmberGale says
IKEA ME!
Gosh, a whole year?? I’d have to think. I’d love to do something with kids/the school system, I think.
Lindsey says
IKEA ME! I would probably want to head overseas to work in a Christian orphanage.
Kristen says
IKEA ME
I’m a speech therapist who works with adults with speech, language and swallowing disorders in NJ. There aren’t nearly enough resources for these people once they leave the hospital and rehab settings. I’d love to be able to fund support groups and build a resource/loan library of materials for these people who require assistive and adaptive devices but cannot afford them.
Megan E says
IKEA ME! I’d likely do something to help people get back on their feet in my area, like volunteer for habitat for humanity.
Anna Macfarlane says
IKEA ME, SVP!
I would love to have a year to travel to Romania, paint the orphanages, bring classical music to the nurseries and hold/hug the orphans. that would be miraculous in so many ways
taralee says
ikea me!
i’d probably do something with kids/families…or help http://www.raphahouse.org with eliminating human trafficking.
Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says
IKEA ME!!!
I would take a year off to help Habitat for Humanity or a local homeless women’s shelter that we have helped before.
Heather says
IKEA me!
I think i’d take a year off to volunteer at an animal shelter. Those poor pooches & kitties need some more loving!
Courtney W. says
IKEA Me! (Please!!!!!)
I am a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and I work with many momma’s who need help nursing, pumping and dealing with their new bambinos. If I had $100,000 I would work to change the way we feed our babies here in the USA! I would love to show moms that they CAN breastfeed and give their babies the BEST! I would work to change they way our society views breastfeeding and encourage mom’s to keep going by creating a clinic to increase breastfeeding rates which would create a healthier generation of babies, children and mommies!
Amy says
IKEA ME!!!
I would help SMART (Start Making A Reader Today). I used to and wish I still had the time.
Amy