***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***
Random.org has selected the two random folks who are about to get $100 to IKEA. And they are… Jennifer (who improves lives by teaching and will also be adopting a child from Ethiopia) and Ashley (who says needs some improvement for herself). Congrats!
If you take one thing away from this post, it should be this: two people are winning $100 gift cards to IKEA this week. Woot! But if you have room for a second thing, know that it’s because Ikea is hosting their second annual Life Improvement Project that, among other things (like hilariously helpful “instructions” for living a better life) includes another $100,000 Life Improvement Sabbatical Contest. So if you’ve got a great idea about how to help others, IKEA will give you one year and one hundred grand to make it happen. Last year’s winner (whose video can be seen here) was actually from right here in Virginia. Double woot!
- PRIZE: An $100 gift card to IKEA, courtesy of the IKEA Life Improvement Project
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “IMPROVE ME!” and tell us…
- BONUS QUESTION: …how you’d like to improve the lives of others. Do you have a special skill or talent that you could leverage? Or is there a specific cause or area of need that you’d like to dedicate yourself too?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, October 12 at 8pm EST (or at 10,000 entries)
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: Two
- PRIZE SHIPS: The continental 48 United States (although we do try to wrangle as many international giveaways as possible)
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winners will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here on Thursday for the announcement of our winner. Good luck…
Note: We weren’t paid or perked for hosting this giveaway, we just do ‘em to thank you awesome folks for stopping in. See our Giveaway FAQ page for more info. Pics courtesy of IKEA Life Improvement Project
Corinne says
IMPROVE ME! After spending a few months in Japan in 2004, I never lost my love for the country. I would love to fly over to help with the ongoing earthquake/tsunami recovery projects.
Stephany says
IMPROVE ME!
Heather says
IMPROVE ME!
I would make more of an effort not to gossip :)
mandie segura says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m working to find an efficient way to help bring clean water to those that need it by donating a portion of the profits of my online business.
Traci R says
Improve me!
I’d like to teach people to eat a little healthier and have it taste A LOT better!
Alexis says
Improve me! I would love to help with literacy issues.
Joan G says
Improve me! I’ve been volunteering with my church and I love feeling like I can help make a difference in New York!
Jules says
IMPROVE ME! I am actually back in school right now, after an 11 year break (yikes!!), pursuing my masters degree to be a Licensed Professional Counselor. As a mom who has gone through a divorce and is now attempting to blend two families with kids, I am interested in developing plans to help other blended families deal with the complexities and struggles that come with divorce/remarriage.
Rachel says
IMPROVE ME!
I would love to adopt a child who needs a stable, loving home. I haven’t felt like i was able to do it when my own kiddos were so young, and I’m still not quite there yet. But I think the time may be coming.
Coran says
Improve ME! I would love to see no child go hungry
Jeremy says
IMPROVE ME!
I had an amazing experience volunteering for a short time at an orphanage in Tanzania this past summer. I would love to give more of my time to those children or even to children right here at home.
Jamie says
IMPROVE ME!
There are so many things I would like to improve, but I am very interested in alternate energy sources and making them a more mainstream choice.
Sarah says
Improve me!!!
Jen Hathcoat says
Improve Me!
I would help give the gift of a dependable vehicle to those in need. I have always thought that the only hand that should be given is a hand up. Giving someone a dependable vehicle opens their potential to find and keep a job with reliable income which will filter good things into the rest of their life!
Allison L says
Improve me!
I’m a literacy coach, and I think one of the biggest heart-breaks of my job is seeing how few low-income kids are read to at home. If I could, I would teach parents about the importance of home literacy and help to connect them to books they can share as a family.
Anna says
IMPROVE ME! I feel strongly about literacy issues and would love to volunteer to help adults learn to read.
Great work as always, youngsters!
Karmen says
IMPROVE ME!!! I want to work hard at truly sowing into my self truth. I am so done with all of the garbage that moms, women, girls face day to day just by turning on the TV. My goal for others is to be an excellent servant. I want to fill needs where possible and necessary.
Liz B. says
IMPROVE ME!
My thing is hugs. I like to give hugs. Need a hug, come find me! Might seem silly but I read a legit study where it is advised to get several hugs each day. As human being we want and crave human contact with others. Plus by giving hugs you get one in return!
amanda says
IMPROVE ME!
Animal rescue is especially near and dear to my heart and I spend a lot of my time working with dog rescue groups.
Kimberly R. says
“IMPROVE ME”
I’d create a program that gets middle and highschool kids from all backgrounds involved in hands-on volunteer work in their community. It is so important for them to see all the work that can be done in their own backyards!
carrie says
IMPROVE ME!
As a former art teacher, I would love to increase state awareness of the importance of fine arts education.
Shiri says
IMPROVE ME!
I want to volunteer more at a local animal shelter… While I’d be helping dogs in the more immediate sense, dogs have the ability to help people -mine certainly have.
Heather says
Improve me!
It’s a great way to improve your life by keeping an “It was a great day” journal or calendar. At the end of every day, jot down at least one thing that happened that really made you smile. It’s fun to go back and read these things on your bad days!
Martha says
IMPROVE ME!
At present all I can think about is how hard it is to be a working mom. (I also recognize it’s hard to be a working dad or a stay-at-home mom/dad. It sucks we can’t all have it figured out like YHL, though I’m sure that’s hard too.)
I would improve the lives of others by making sure every working mom knows that a pumping bra: A. Exists and B. will change her life. (So wish someone had told me this five weeks ago.)
Lora says
IMPROVE ME! I have a strong passion not only for the literacy of children, but also teaching children to truly love books! I believe that parents should start reading to their children when they are in the womb or in infancy, and make it a habit. There are so many benefits in taking 30 minutes a day to read to your child :)
Ashlee Gladson says
IMPROVE ME!!
I’d do something to help children.
Jessica says
IMPROVE ME! I’d love to foster dogs and someday I will!
Sara says
IMPROVE ME! Although there are big wonderful things I’d love to do I like to think that passing on a genuine smile and kind words to strangers helps to improve other peoples days.
Lesley L says
Improve Me! I am an active volunteer in my city. It is so rewarding for all.
Courtney H says
IMPROVE ME! My office group tries to go to the soup kitchen as often as possible – small task can make a difference!
Halley (Blunder Construction) says
IMPROVE ME! I work on projects for transportation as a civil engineer, so in some way I improve the lives and commutes of some people.
Debbie says
IMPROVE ME!
Jamie P. says
“IMPROVE ME!” I’d like to spend more time at our community garden growing fresh produce/distributing to those in need/teaching them how to cook with fresh ingredients, etc.
Nicole says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m a teacher, and one thing I would really like to get involved in is youth nutrition education. It is scary to see what some parents pack in their kids lunchboxes everyday… I would love to teach families how to make healthy, affordable food choices.
Emily T says
IMPROVE ME!!! The cause I’m most passionate about is cancer research.
Ashley @ Lewis in Love says
IMPROVE ME! I’m extremely passionate about helping veterans who are returning home from serving overseas get help acclimating to home, family and “regular” work. It’s a topic that doesn’t get much publicity and something I think is super important.
Cate says
IMPROVE ME!
I would love to get involved with Habitat for Humanity or other organizations that donate their time and hard work to better people’s housing situations.
CarrieK says
IMPROVE ME!
I am a Michigan Humane Society volunteer (have two rescue dogs of my own) and also help to raise funds for CF research. Two causes dear to my heart!
JennyB says
IMPROVE ME! I hope to one day work for a non-profit charity raising money for those less fortunate.
ras says
IMPROVE ME!
my specialty is organization. i love helping anybody and everybody get their organization on!
Kelli S says
IMPROVE ME!
Does improving the lives of homeless animals count? :) I work as an adoption counselor at my local SPCA and do everything I can to make sure our “orphans” are going to great homes where they will be loved and treated with kindness and respect.
Although I guess that’s also improving the lives of their adoptive families because they’re getting great new companions!
Shea says
IMPROVE ME!
I love giving random people complements! (On their clothes, smile, anything!)
Alyssa says
Improve me! I would love to work as a low cost personal organizer. I feel like so many people carry (literally and figuratively )too much baggage. I believe in living simply and simply living. I’d love to help other sort through things and get rid of the unnecessary .
Nicole says
IMPROVE ME!
My favorite cause is Alzheimer’s disease.
SeanG says
Improve me! :-)
Jessica says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m an artists and worked in a gallery in college. I thought it would be so fulfilling to open a gallery with art classes specifically catered to disabled/disadvantaged individuals so they can express their creativity!
Kami Buchanan says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to start Princess for a day for local girls that are unable to “play” dress-up or imagine the fairly tale life due to their circumstances. I want to have visits from princesses, hair and makeup, dresses provided. Every time my daughter plays dress-up (which is everyday) I think of these girls who don’t have these special memories, play clothes and sparkles. I would love to do it this year. I hope I can make it happen.
Allison says
IMPROVE ME!
I would provide funding/support so that pregnancy is no longer a life-threatening condition in third world countries. Every woman deserves a clean, safe place to become a mother.
Stephanie W says
IMPROVE ME!
We donate to different causes, this year we are hosting (and my husband participating) in a 24 hour game marathon to raise money for local Childrens hospitals. Its actually this weekend…if anyone wants to help donate, its tax deductable!
http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=501&participantID=18214
Carrie at lovely etc. says
Improve me! I would love to go work with children in need in Uganda at some point.