*** 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.
Carolyn says
IKEA me!
I’d do something to improve the nutritional quality of kids’ diets.
Rachel H says
IKEA me!
I would take a year volunteering at the schools in my city. I’d help clean for the start of the school year, read to classes, help start/organize the school library and help wherever I can.
kelli says
IKEA is a great company! I would spend a year developing a transitional housing/work/training program for kids aging out of the foster care system.
Michelle says
IKEA ME!!!!
I would set up a program that tutors underprivileged youth. I’m a school teacher, so this is a topic near and dear to my heart.
Chris M says
Ikea Me! I would teach others how to build and repair things.
Robert says
Ikea me!
Cheryl Keene says
IKEA ME!!!
My husband and I have talked about opening a soccer facility – he would coach, I would handle the administrative stuff, and he’d work with kids who couldn’t afford pricey league fees.
Lindy says
IKEA Me!!
Carol says
IKEA Me!
I would love to support an adult GED program.
Jenn says
IKEA ME! If I had a year to work for others, I would love to devote my time to those families rebuilding their lives in New Orleans.
Megan S. says
IKEA ME!
I would spend a year tutoring kids in reading and writing.
Kim says
IKEA ME!
A year to help others? I’d probably go to Africa and volunteer for an organization that builds schools for girls. While there are many worthwhile causes in Africa, giving girls the education to make their own changes is empowering.
Meg says
Ikea me!
I would work to get the foster system in Florida to work for the kids – instead of against them.
Lydia says
IKEA ME!!!
I’d love to help with children somehow- volunteer at an orphanage or children’s shelter.
Kate, aka guavalicious says
Ikea Me! I would love to spend a year helping out in our local public schools.
Nerd Girl says
IKEA me…I would spend a year teaching women and girls in impoverished communities (locally and globally) about their reproductive health, birth control, STD prevention, etc.
Maggie says
IKEA me!
It’s too hard to pick just one thing, but probably something with kids in bad family situations or abused pets. Or maybe some combination of the two! :)
Misty says
IKEA ME!!
I would LOVE to do something that involved animals!
Allison says
IKEA Me!
I would go to Tara Hall in Georgetown, SC and teach the young men that live there :)
LaurenGrags says
IKEA ME!
I am a minister to teenagers. So if I were to have a year off, I think I would continue working where I’m at and donate the money to doing more mission work around the country and around our city of Fort Worth!
Chrissy says
IKEA ME!
I feel strongly about women’s rights issues, so maybe a year in a country with a few resources for abused women?
Stephanie says
IKEA ME PLEASE!!
If I had a year to volunteer my time, I would spend it at one of our satellite churches in Africa. I have not been back since highschool, and the time that I had there was unforgettable. So many needs, yet so much love. . .
KtMac says
IKEA me!! I’d spend my time helping bring clean and safe drinking water to underdeveloped areas through a NGO such as Charity:Water.
Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says
IKEA ME!
I’d totally volunteer to help dogs find new homes, especially with the organization who saved our puppy from the shelter life! :)
Ashley K. says
IKEA me!
As a teacher I see so many students who, without the belief and encouragement of an adult, might never believe in themselves. I would definitely spend the money organizing a program to intervene and mentor young children before they give up on themselves and their dreams.
Sue says
IKEA Me!
sarah b says
Ikea me!!
Heather says
Ikea Me!!
I’d love to work with kids either in a hospital or kids that were born into tough situations.
Laura@JourneyChic says
IKEA ME! I live near an ASPCA hospital, and would volunteer there. We rescued our cat from a local shelter, but so many others aren’t lucky enough to be adopted.
Anna says
IKEA ME! I recently started volunteering at a local family homeless shelter, and I’d love to have the time and resources to expand the services we provide.
courtney says
ikea me!
i’d still work but use the money to improve the school in which i work!
Katie says
IKEA me! I would spend one year traveling to rundown neighborhoods and helping them beautify their streets and community centers. I believe beautiful surroundings can do wonders for a person’s mind and self-esteem.
Grace says
IKEA Me!
I would spend a year traveling to orphanages through the Global Orphan Project. If you haven’t heard of them, please please please check them out!
Anne says
IKEA ME! I would love to help our local schools by writing grants to help improve their after school programs, libraries, and cafeterias.
Elizabeth says
Ikea Me! I would spend a year helping kids in underprivledge schools. We have some of the worst in the country in my hometown and I hate that since these schools can’t get the funding they need, there are kids who are missing out on chances to succeed.
Kerry says
Ikea me!
I’d spend a year working with rescue animals. I volunteer at a no kill animal shelter now once a week, but I’d love to be able to take a year off to work with them more!
Monica K says
IKEA ME! Wow, what a great giveaway!
I would love to volunteer at my local humane league if I had the time off.
Micki says
IKEA me!
I’ve always wanted to set up a preschool using natural materials, wood toys, etc. for children of poor families. These children tend not to get the best type of daycare and the materials are usually garish and second hand. I would love to provide a beautiful learning environment for our neediest youngsters.
Stephanie says
IKEA me!
If I had one year to volunteer, I would spend 1/2 my time visiting nursing homes and talking with the residents. Just to brighten their day. The other 1/2 would be spent playing with the dogs at the animal shelter!
kathleen says
IKEA me!
I’d spend a year either going back to areas I’ve done medical missions before (Haiti, Peru, etc) and continuing work with those communities, or firmly establishing a whole-family nutrition/exercise/empowerment program in the impoverished urban community my medical school is located it. So much that could be done, had we only the time!
Tori says
Ikea Me!
I would love to spend a year generating awareness about nutrition, especially in school lunches (ala Jamie Oliver).
I also think it would be enormously rewarding to volunteer somewhere like Best Friends or Farm Santuary to help abused and/or neglected animals.
Ashley says
IKEA ME!
I would start the foundation I’ve been thinking of that helps individuals get into drug rehab centers. Of course I would help animals too!
megan says
IKEA ME! Hooray! :)
I’d spend a year starting a farmer’s market in my neighborhood, bringing fresh local produce into the city.
Theresa says
IKEA ME !!!
I would spend the year working with families that are in need of affordable housing to prevent them from becoming homeless.
Brandy says
IKEA Me!
I would work the environmental agency that my mom help start. She died last year of breast cancer and I know that they could use all of the help.
Cari says
IKEA me!
I would help out children in developing countries. They do not get the education opportunities that they deserve.
lynn says
ikea me! me me me me me! :-) i would love to work with an organization that helps teach underpriveleged children and their families how they can achieve healthy and active lifestyles.
Suzie Pattison says
IKEA ME!!!
I would start programs for Stay-at-home moms…. to connect them and offer FREE childcare so that they don’t feel isolated and alone in the craziest journey ever!!
Corrie says
IKEA Me! I’d love to spend a year working with Habitat for Humanity…I think it would be so much fun to spend a year building houses for people in need.
Jen N says
Ikea me!
I’d probably devote the majority of my time to the Ronald McDonald house. I’d also love to do work that helps get women prepared to enter the workforce—helping them with interviewing, resumes, picking the proper clothing to wear.