***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
Leasa says
IMPROVE ME! I’d like to work with a homeless shelter to throw birthday parties for the kids that live there. Some friends, balloons, streamers, old school party games, a few gifts and of course, fabulous delicious cake. Doesn’t take much to create a memorable birthday.
Kelly says
Improve me!! I’d love to open a home for dogs who’s owners are members of the military. It would be free of charge to the owners and theyd have opportunities skype with their four legged family members, watch them on webcams and know they are loved and taken care of why they are deployed.
Jessica D says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m being trained to help people understand their personality and gifts — why they are the way they are. I can’t wait to help them figure out how each one of us fits into the world we live in!
Ariel says
IMPROVE ME! I try to be kind to everyone:)
Katie says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to help build self confidence in young women.
Adam G. says
Improve me! I would love to educate people about healthy eating habits and exercise!
Alice says
IMPROVE ME!
aknapoli says
Improve me!
As an aspiring screenwriter, I want to further equality and empowerment in the media through my writing.
Stephanie says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m in medical school now, so my career will be focused on directly improving the lives of others. I’m thinking of focusing on women’s health, but I’m not sure yet.
Tonya says
IMPROVE ME!
Lauren G. says
Improve me! I love the work I do with disadvantaged children. It is so great to instill the hope in them that the future can be good!
Stacey Thomas says
IMPROVE ME!!! I’d like to start teaching kids how to read once I finish grad school!
Tabitha says
IMPROVE ME
I am working on my master’s degree so that I can work for the WHO!
Laura says
IMPROVE ME!
I already volunteer at an animal shelter, but I wouldn’t mind spending more time there especially to help educate the public.
Carolyn C. says
IMPROVE ME! I’m involved with an organization that helps people who have been unemployed over a year find a job. We help with their resumes, interviewing skills, and clothes to wear to interviews in some cases.
Joanna says
IMPROVE ME!
Before having my children I was a teacher. I think that getting back into that field one day would be a great way to help others.
kim d says
Improve me!
I’d like to do more to help the local food closets, mainly to improve the ratio of processed junk foods/healthy fresh foods. When our family used to volunteer it was sad how much of what we gave out was highly refined/ full of sugar. Too many hungry kids out there that are growing still.
LeAnne Maready says
IMPROVE ME!
Empower parents with simple mental tools to teach their children about their amazing WORTH on a daily basis.
Children want to learn, want to please, want to know what they should do, and they also believe about themselves what they are told. Pretend for a week there is no such thing as the word “no”. In every encounter with your child, use it as an opportunity to teach and to praise. Instead of “No!, don’t hit the puppy”…. say “Oh, let’s LOVE the puppy…let’s try this again….Oh LOOK at how GREAT you are with playing with your puppy! I new you could do it! Great job!”
It’s SO amazing how turning simple little interactions every day into positive experiences can build esteem in children. Try it and just watch them light up! It may take time to retrain your brain, but SO worth it.
Much more where that came from….
Thanks John and Sherry SO much for the AMAZING inspiration! You’ve changed my life and I’m passing it on!
LeAnne Maready says
Oops! *Knew*, not new. You know what I mean. : )
Lisa G says
Improve Me! I teach high school so I always strive to improve the lives of the teenagers I work with daily.
Sara Price says
improve me. my son is deaf. most insurance plans do not cover hearing aids. i have yet to meet a family who is not trying to find funding for hearing aids or surgery or countless hours of therapy. i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to find a way to help these families.
MegRSB says
IMPROVE ME!
Joel says
Improve me! I want to teach people how to be responsible financially and how to get away from the burden of debt!
Jennifer F says
Improve me! I became a nurse because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Before every shift, I pray that I make a positive impact on someone whether it be with a smile, an ear to listen or some other comfort measure. I am always looking for ways to improve and be the best caregiver I can be.
kate says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to devote more time to ending family violence. It begins at home by mentoring young people, identify triggers, and intervening before it is too late.
Kate says
IMPROVE ME! I would like to think that I am a positive role model for kids :)
Donna Jean says
IMPROVE ME!!
Julie says
Improve Me Please!
There are so many pets out there looking for great homes, and I want to help them find their way there. We found our handsome mutt Petey at the Humane Society four years ago, and our lives haven’t been the same since!
On the Ikea front, I’ve been dying to pick up two Rast dressers to doctor up and use as nightstands. It would be a definite improvement to our snoozefest (not in a good way) of a bedroom.
Margaret says
IMPROVE ME! I want to start a community art center where folks of all ages can come together and try something new, or practice something they’ve nearly perfected. what a dream!
Jovi says
Improve me!! I plan to volunteer for habitat 4 humanity and hey, improve my handy skills while i’m at it.
Betsy says
improve me!
Jo says
My husband and our family (3 kids) moved this year from suburbia to the poorest county in our state. He works for an after school program there and I volunteer. We spent tonight like so many evenings discussing how far behind these kids are in their education and all the challenges they are up against. Some days it just seems that there is no hope. But we know where real hope is found and we are striving to build relationships with these kids and hopefully some of them will be able to break a cycle and rise above their circumstances to a greater future. Thanks for the info on the bigger IKEA contest. I think we’ll be submitting an entry.
Courtney Renegar says
IMPROVE ME!! I would bring science enrichment programs to low income schools!!
Kira says
Improve me! As a children’s counselor, I wish I could do more full time work, but now my job is a stay at home mom. I wish I could adopt all the foster kids out there, scoop them up and take them home!
paige says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m the vice president of http://www.ethiopianorphanrelief.org, a non-profit I helped to found. We improve the lives of orphans who remain in care–clean water, warm beds, libraries, playgrounds, school fees, dormitories, health clinics.
I LOVE what I volunteer to do each day!
Amy @ Croquet & Cocktails says
Improve me
I teach. I’ve been doing it for 12 years. I started in an inner city school (Long Beach/Compton) area and now I’m in a pretty suburban area. I’ve seen that all kids need someone who will listen and take a genuine interest in them. They thrive when they know they are safe and have firm expectations placed upon them. My goal is to foster a safe learning environment that is fair and firm (and a little bit funny!!)
Emily says
IMPROVE ME!
I am a special education teacher that would love to give my knowledge and skills to enrich the lives of children who need me.
Tessa says
IMPROVE ME! (please!)
Chris says
iMPROVE ME! I would like to adopt every homeless cat in the world! But I don’t want to be featured on “Hoarders”…
deann says
Improve Me. Thanks!!
Rachel says
IMPROVE ME! I would keep teaching art classes for free
Sarah Bragg says
Improve me! I heart Ikea. We are helping peopleforcare.org build a city in Cambodia!
Becky says
Improve me, please!!
Kelli says
IMPROVE ME!
r8chel says
IMPROVE ME!
I like to improve people’s lives by smiling and saying hello to people who are often ignored — the woman cleaning the public restroom, the man stocking the shelves at Walmart, the panhandler, the security officer, etc. It brightens my day to brighten theirs.
Miranda says
IMPROVE ME!
I am a pediatric nurse and strive to improve the lives of kids everyday!
Powerpuff says
improve me!
Mary says
IMPROVE ME! I think you can help others in your everyday life by listening from spouses to coworkers to clients.
Meg says
Improve me!
Despite the surface appearance of comfort in my community, recent studies show that my area is one of the “Hungriest congressional districts in the United States” I try to take time to work with agencies that are supporting those that have less than they need, but I wish I could do more!
Angelica says
IMPROVE ME! I volunteer as a doula and lactation counselor and hope to make it a career. I believe the best start to life begins with birth sand breastfeeding!
Chris says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to help people by bringing a dog to a nursing home