***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
Rhonda says
IMPROVE ME!
I am an elementary school library media specialist and my passion is reading! The cause I am most passionate about is literacy, both in youth and adults. Reading is the key to academic success and can be a source of lifelong pleasure. READ MORE!
Meghan Lindsay says
IMPROVE ME!!
Nicola says
IMPROVE ME! My pet cause is maternal health. So many women don’t have access to simple, potentially lifesaving pre- and post-natal care.
Lindsay says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m passionate about helping the homeless in my area (DC) … i volunteer my time at Miriam’s Kitchen. I help cook, prepare and serve food … and help with job training. It’s something little that i can do .. no real “talent” needed.
Heather says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to use my skills as a music educator to help kids in more urban areas receive music lessons and instruments for low/no cost. Music should be accessible to all kids!
Sarah says
Improve me!
I’d love to be involved with young mothers who are struggling and trying to find a place in their newly changed world.
Megan says
Improve me!
I’m a big believer in volunteering. I volunteer at my daughter’s school, and my family and I volunteer for the salvation army and with operation christmas child.
tiffany says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to help people with disabilities, illnesses, or a lack of resources become more independent.
Holly says
Improve me!
I would start a support group for unemployed people.
Jen says
Improve me! I’d love to improve the lives of all of the homeless animals by volunteering more often.
Kimberly Meeks says
Improve Me!
I am a teacher and have always loved working with children who struggle with reading. I think this is the area where I could make a difference :). AND I LOVE IKEA!!!!
Shannon says
IMPROVE ME! My wife and I plan to open our (eventual) farm to foster children with a free community garden, cooking lessons, horse therapy and riding lessons.
Ashley E says
IMPROVE ME!
julianna says
IMPROVE ME!
Colorado DIYer says
IMPROVE ME
I quit my job last year to become an elementary school teacher. I know how easy it is to either make or break a child’s education. I try to make a difference in one student every day.
Lindsey C says
IMPROVE ME!
mp says
IMPROVE ME!!!
I entered this contest last year with the idea that I’d assist families with a member on dialysis who had private insurance. My husband was the only insurance patient at his clinic, and we were denied so much assistance that was automatic for the Medicaid patients (food stamps, home nursing care, transportation, free medication, financial assistance from the National Kidney Foundation). He’s been dead two and a half years and I’m still bitter about how we were treated in our most dire hour of need. I wanted — and would still like at some point — to make sure no other family suffers like we did.
What I AM doing to improve the world is care for rescue dogs, specifically Burger’s less fortunate fellows. I have five rescue chis and have just been approved to adopt an elderly blind chi and her loving sighted companion. Caring for the unadoptable chihuahuas of the world (or at least southern Virginia) has healed me in many ways, truly a case of “who rescued whom?”
Molly says
IMPROVE ME…after school exercise/nutrition program for children
sandy says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to open a private practice for speech therapy.
Jen says
IMPROVE ME!!!
I would love to help single mothers get on their feet and get their lives on the right track!!
Lindsey J says
IMPROVE ME!
Brianne says
IMPROVE ME!!!
I would open a Christian school for at-risk adolescents. We would teach all of the core subjects, plus some unique electives. There would be voluntary and court-ordered teenagers, and mental health and family counseling would be integrated into the curriculum, as well as job skills and substance abuse counseling. I would not force religion or beliefs on anyone, but the curriculum and fundamentals of the school would be rooted in love and the teachings in Jesus.
I’ve thought about it so much I even know what I’d name the school and have drawn out the layout of the building :)
Wendy M. says
IMPROVE ME! Frankly, I’d like to improve the lives of children more than anything. There are a lot of children who come from families that simply cannot (or, in some bum cases, WILL NOT) make the effort to improve their children’s lives… If it was possible, I’d love to be able to set up schools specifically geared at children who want to improve their own lives at a younger age… geared towards working them up to an encouraging level at such a young age so that they feel like college is applicable to them, even though they’re from low-income families.
I’ll get off of my soapbox now…
<3
Lindsay says
IMPROVE ME!
I like to help improve people’s lives be creating beautiful art for them. It’s a passion of mine to make beautiful things.
Maria says
IMPROVE ME! I love animals and would love to help in some way.
Jen says
IMPROVE ME!
It may seem trivial to some, but I’m sad to see that the arts are being pulled out of our public school system. I just recently started contributing by teaching piano lessons, and I’m loving it and hoping the kids I teach will spread the arts in any way they can!
Lauren G says
IMPROVE ME! This September, I began leading the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group at my church. Better moms make a better world! Let’s face it, being a mom is not easy, and I’m blessed to be involved with a group of moms who encourage one another and build each other up. Moms gotta stick together!
AutumnTao says
Improve Me!
I teach HS English and have a UNICEF Halloween fundraiser going on now, followed by a T-Day food drive in Nov. I would like to find a good charity we can work on for the spring though.
Many thanks!
Katie says
IMPROVE ME, please!! : )
Alisa says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d love to open a arts and crafts studio in a low income neighborhood where kids can stop in and learn to express themselves through creativity.
Holly says
IMPROVE ME! The cause I am passionate for is Special Education. Through understanding and developing individual education plan for children we can better reach their needs and help them live a successful, fulfilled life :)
Bethany says
IMPROVE ME! I have a major soft spot for animals and am hoping to volunteer at my local humane society soon, I don’t have any specific animal related skills, but I’d love to learn : )
Kylie says
Improve me!
I would like to help people to find affordable medical care.
Cathy D says
Improve Me!!
I would love to educate kids on the benefits of physical activity, and the physical world (not just the world that exists on this computer screen).
Kim says
Improve me! There is a food bank in our area that provides food for struggling families…the thought of not being able to provide my children with food makes literally tear up every time I think about it…I’d like to donate more food on a regular basis to help families facing tough economic times….
Kinsey says
Improve me! This might not count because it’s more about animals than people, but I would love to be able to educate people about spaying and neutering their pets to help keep animals off the streets and out of the pound. It’s a win-win people/animal situation!
Debbie says
Improve me! please!
I want to stop procrastination in my daily life!
Tanya says
Improve me! I’d like be a high school art teacher someday.
Melissa@IWasBornToCook says
IMPROVE ME! I could give adults (and kids) the ability to cook and be more confident in the kitchen.
Caitlin says
IMPROVE ME!
Recently, I’ve helped a handful of people update and re-style their resumes (pro bono) to try and help them really stand out from the crowd.
I enjoy it IMMENSELY because I feel it’s a very small way for me to help make a very big difference in someone’s life.
Jake says
IMPROVE ME! I improve people’s lives through ensuring compliance with re-employment training programs with the government. Helping those who have recently lost employment obtain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to be competitive in today’s fast pace economy. Improve me as I help to improve others!
Vanessa says
IMPROVE ME! I’d love to help others learn to read. It’s a passion and I’d love to share it.
Annie says
IMPROVE ME! I want to educate people on how to be green and earth-friendly!
Lindy says
IMPROVE ME!!!
Erin G. says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to adopt a child and provide them with a loving, stable home environment.
amy says
Improve me! I’m a graphic designer. I’d love to find a way to find worthy, simple pro bono clients that I can take on in my spare time (I work full time and then some on an in-house design team).
Deborah says
improve me!
Ashley says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to find a a way to help children in the foster care system, living in a residential facility. A lot of times, at age 18 yo, they are booted with nothing.
Kimberly says
Improve me! I am hoping to go to Puebla with my husband and lead a short term missions trip from our church.
ann says
IMPROVE ME!
I am hoping to learn how to help people become more financially literate.