*** 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…
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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.
Stewart Pillow says
IKEA Me!
If I could spend one year helping others, it would be speaking out for the education of children. Our Government has many wonderful programs for our children, but I feel that they are not challenging the public to help educate the children like they should be. I went to the local schools here, and I have a first-hand experience of not having the correct materials, out-dated text books, ill-educated teachers, and a school system that doesn’t support the individual but supports the majority (whether good or bad for us a whole)
I would spend a year making sure children like Clara can attend a school and actually learn something new each and every day!
[[[[[[and read your blog and shop at Ikea in my spare time]]]]] :)
Elizabeth says
IKEA ME!
I think I would try to start right here at home, and work on the public school system.
Jen C says
Ikea Me!
I would work with a local group providing support to families that have experienced the loss of a pregnancy.
Melanie says
Ikea me!
Sharif says
IKEA ME!
I’d volunteer with the Pen Pals dog training program at the James River Correctional Center.
Kristen says
IKEA ME!
If I had been given 100,000 to do philanthropic work, I would use it to go towards something near and dear to my heart: education. I’m an English teacher and so much money is being cut from school districts. I’m not sure if I would put it into one school, several schools, or a program more like the 826 National programs (check them out at http://www.826national.org), but the money would most certainly go towards education.
Elizabeth M says
IKEA ME! PLEASE!
If I had the money and a year off, I would help needy families in any way possible. Many of us don’t think about this but there are some unprivileged families/ people who can not even afford Ikea. While we sit in our dinning room eating on that beautiful table, there are many people eating in the sidewalk.
danyelle says
ikea me!
I would help children in troubled homes.
Michelle Preiss says
Ikea Me!! I’d like to do something to help shelter dogs find new loving forever homes!
Julia A says
Ikea me!
I’m not sure what I’d do! There are so many great programs out there and so many great ways to give back to the community. I’d probably end up doing a plethora different volunteer work. Mentor underprivileged kid, work with rescued animals, nature conservation, whatever I could do during each week where I felt I was making a true impact on the world.
irene says
IKEA Me!
I would set up a Foundation to help families that are in desperate need – that have lost their jobs and are trying to keep their homes and lives together.
Tina Whitling says
IKEA Me!
I would use the money to work for and support our local animal shelter!
Suzanne says
Please IKEA me!!! I would use the money to start decorating our baby’s nursery!
If I had a year to volunteer I would work with young girls to teach the importance of self-confidence and eduction. The goal would be to put a stop to teenage pregnancy for these young women.
jessica g says
IKEA ME!
i’m an avid pitbull lover and advocate. There are not nearly enough rescues willing to take on pitbulls. I have volunteered with one rescue for over a year. Unfortunately, we have not been able to expand our facilities or hire staff (we are purely volunteer), thus we’ve gotten to the point where we’ve had to turn dogs away. this is never a good thing. my goal would be able to enhance the capacity of the organization so they may hire a development person to act as the face of the organization and seek large money backers to aid in obtaining property to develop a permanent residence for the organization and its kennels.
Jeane says
IKEA ME!
I would love working at an orphanage.
Julie says
Ikea ME!
I would love to volunteer to teach art at one of the not for profit art centers in my area.
Alicia says
IKEA Me!
I would spend my year as a stay at home mom…. being a better mother AND volunteering. I would definitly take her to preschool and head off to different non-profit agencies.
Dayna says
IKEA ME!!! Please :) If I had one year to spend helping others, I’d love to go to a different country, like Brazil, and work with the children living in the flavellas. There really are so many people to help that its hard to narrow it down but my heart is definitely passionate about helping kids and those in countries not as wealthy as the US.
Ana Brightful says
IKEA me, please!
If I could I would volunteer in an orphanage. Since I had my daughter this year it has made me think of babies who can’t get all the love and attention that they need.
THatton says
IKEA Me!
So many options, but I think I would like to volunteer in South America for a year.
Nikki says
IKEA ME!
I would volunteer at a hospital :-).
Amber says
IKEA Me!
I would love to travel and help teach in different schools. I’d also love to help rescue animals.
hanna says
Ikea Me!
I’d love to work at an ESL program for kids or adults…
Cherish Stockdale says
IKEA ME!! I would volunteer at or open my own teen crisis pregnancy center :)
Isaac says
Ikea Me!
I would foster children.
Leah says
IKEA ME!
I hold a MA in Nonprofit Management specific to fund-raising; if given a year to do whatever I wanted in the field I would devote my time the best way I can think – by doing pro-bono grantwriting and fund solicitation for as many nonprofits in my area as possible. They’re all so deserving and I could never pick just one!
Shannon Mac says
IKEA me!
If I won the money, I would teach people how to cook and feed them. Simple, but it works :)
Catherine says
IKEA me!
If I could have one year off to help others I would open a community arts center to help encourage and inspire children and young adults to explore their inner creativity. I believe art is a very important component of self-expression and the overall process of social and creative development.
Amanda says
IKEA ME!
I would definitely be doing something in the nonprofit world that would help with our current economic status as a whole.
Colleen says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend my time working to help curb the obesity epidemic in the US. I would love to provide nutrition education and help individuals learn to cook and eat healthy on any budget.
sarah says
Ikea meeee!
Dorothy says
IKEA ME!
I am an elementary school teacher in a low income school and if I had a year to do something, I would still be doing this. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and up until this point, still the most meaningful.
Miriam H. says
IKEA ME!
Health, exercise and nutrition for kids!
Kathy T says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend time helping people learn to read. And just being there for people who need a boost.
Alison says
IKEA ME! I’d volunteer to work at an animal rescue or shelter.
Alicia M says
IKEA Me!
I’d counsel women who are suffering from domestic abuse or who have recently gotten out of an abusive situation.
Stephanie says
“IKEA Me!” and…
If I could spend one year helping others I would focus on some kind of program to connect grandparent aged people with young children (mostly children of need.) If that was not feasible, then I would work in helping foster children (something I would like to do (for more than a year) but can’t afford to do!
Thanks.
Ashley says
Ikea me!
I’d love to participate in church mission trips and volunteer with local organizations that help children who’ve aged out of the foster care system.
Lisa D. says
IKEA ME!
I’d spend it helping animals – pit bulls.
Cristina says
IKEA ME!
I’d love to volunteer at an animal shelter.
Andrea says
IKEA ME!
I would work with children in the realm of health and education.
Alicia says
IKEA ME!
I would love to do something with children…maybe work at a school with Underprivileged students.
Rita says
“Ikea Me!!!” Wow!! I would work with a local pregnancy center!
Megan says
IKEA Me!
I would love to spend a year helping people, and I would start where I live (DC) and hopefully expand to include my home city (Philadelphia) and work with kids to get them excited about school and their future – either through a writing program or environmental education/awareness program. Or maybe a combination of those two things!
Lindsay says
“IKEA Me!” I would open a cat rescue shelter!
Andrea says
Ikea Me!
I would tutor kids at the local high school.
Jaimee says
IKEA Me!
One year to help others would allow me to get back into Big Brothers Big Sisters. I used to be involved, but then my little sister moved away at the same time I got pregnant with my daughter, so I just sort of fell away because of time constraints.
Megan says
IKEA Me!
Tough question. I’d get involved in animal rescue, fundraising, etc. Doggies need a voice.
Erika Wilson says
IKEA me!
I would teach kids to sew:)
Alyson says
IKEA me :)
I homeschool my children, and people are always asking me for help or to educate their children. Eventually when my nest is empty, I may try to make it into a job; for now, if I had the time and the money, I’d tutor the kids who are struggling at public school and get them back up to speed so they and their parents can enjoy school again.