***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
Beth says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d like to help victims of domestic abuse.
Kelly Dyer says
IMPROVE ME!
I want to start a ministry to NICU parents. For every child there would be a box with parking cards, gas cards, a preemie outfit, the locations of stores that sell preemie clothes and encouragement from those of us that have been there.
steph says
IMPROVE ME! I would like to improve medical waiting rooms, with nice art, reading material and refreshments. I love my dermatologist, especially since she has a Keuring in the waiting room.
Mary-Clare says
Improve me!!! I am in nursing school and I love the impact I make on my patients!
DemMom says
IMPROVE ME! I want to become a Care Manager, to help seniors and patients with serious illnesses and their families navigate all the health care needs and resources available to them when they need to take care of themselves/family members.
Jess says
IMPROVE ME!
I would work in library and advocate for literacy
Christy says
IMPROVE ME! I love to sew and I love kids. Maybe sew dresses for children oversees who need them…?!
Nicole says
IMPROVE ME!
I enjoy improving the lives of others by volunteering my time to help build homes for those in need.
Patty says
IMPROVE ME!!!!!!!
Lindsey D says
IMPROVE ME!
Nicole says
IMPROVE ME!! Id love to learn sign language to be able to communicate with the deaf.
Adee says
IMPROVE ME!!
Bonnie says
Improve me!
I’m an urban planner, and I work in (for) a city that’s hit a serious economic rough patch. I’d love to take a year off and help build our entrepreneurship base- connecting ideas to people, and people to resources, and businesses to locations. There are various orgs doing bits of these- but they often falter on the “last mile”- actually getting the various licenses (liquor, business, health, etc) or finding good (and legal) locations. I also want to do some work on the zoning code to make it easier on EVERYONE- right now it’s been slightly-tweaked and slightly-tweaked so that in parts, it’s like a horrible game of telephone to figure out what’s permitted, what’s not, and why (even for me, and I’ve been doing it for a year and a half).
I also volunteer with a local group of neighborhood associations that work with the police department to keep down crime. I wish we had the $$ to do some public awareness stuff- so much of the crime that happens in our town is either domestic (we’d love to connect people to resources, anonymously) or relatively easily preventable (college town- students really need to lock their doors sometimes).
Anna says
Improve me! I’m gonna find ways to reduce math anxiety, esp among the ladies. I’m goin to school for that right now, but currently doing all my work in bed or on the couch, having an IKEA desk suuuuure would help!
Taylor Woods says
IMPROVE ME
Sonia says
Improve me! teach communication skills to under-privileged kids so they can more easily interview and get jobs
Annie W. says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m passionate about helping children and families live healthy lifestyles.
Grace says
IMPROVE ME!
Valeria Miranda says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m a hobbist photographer and I want to specialize taking pictures of kids with special needs. Everybody deserves to have great pictures of themselves! :)
Jen says
Improve me!
I have always wanted to be an advocate for children, to make sure they are heard and that their needs are met.
Erin S says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to help others through painting– perhaps murals in a children’s hospital or school! I used to volunteer in college and need to make more time now!
Valerie says
Improve me!
I’d like to be able to donate money to programs that help autistic kids learn to navigate the adult world. I’d love it if I could help get my brother into one of these programs.
stacy says
Improve me!! I once read an article on a woman who made up little ‘remembrance’ kits for hospitals to give to parents who suffer the loss of their baby. I would love to start that program at my local hospitals.
Kate says
IMPROVE ME!!
I would like to help kids and families that struggle with addiction problems or just communication issues in general through the use of art therapy. Sometimes you just need to get out of your element (or into it if art used to be something you enjoyed doing), and that release helps some people open up about their issues. I love art and creating stuff and feel like I could really help people. I am not “passionate” about my job and would love to take on this task if I had the resources to do so!
Siobhan says
Improve me! I’m passionate about energy and environmental conservation. I would love to help people learn to tread lightly on our planet.
Vesi Cooke says
IMPROVE ME!
I would like to reintroduce the concept of getting to know your neighbor and be involved in your community!
Laura says
IMPROVE ME!
im studying to be an industrial designer…which means i help make the products everyone uses easier and more helpful!
Amy says
IMPROVE ME…At this moment I dont have a widespread way I would like to help others, I just really have my neighbors on my mind, a mother and daughter. They both struggle with depression and are having a difficult time making ends meet. I would really like to be able to help them in real and tangible ways.
Kristen says
IMPROVE ME PLEASE! I mentor young interns who are preparing to graduate and are aspiring to score their dream job.
Jen says
I would say IMPROVE ME, but your website tells me that I’ve already said that, which I most definitely have not. So, IMPROVE ME!
Leslie says
“IMPROVE ME!”
I would make dinner with my students after school and do homework help because so many go home to care for their younger siblings without mom or dad around. A family dinner often doesn’t happen because their parent/s work at night shifts.
Pam Tucker says
Improve Me!
I would love to help people find jobs that are out of work.
Jenny says
Improve me!
I just started learning photography about a year ago and now am actually pretty good at it. I would love to take pictures of people who can’t afford professional photography to show them how beautiful they are. It’s just so wonderful to know you made someone feel good about themselves.
Preeti says
IMPROVE ME!
S says
IMPROVE ME!
Taylor Woods says
I would love to work with young children!
Bboss says
Improve Me!
I’ve always wanted to help others who may have depression issues like me. Of course, you may end up just sitting around and being more depressed listening to problems.
Jessica says
IMPROVE ME! I’d like to become a lactation consultant.
Kicken Bejos says
Improve Me! My mission of improvement is in creating memories..ones that you can hold and touch. I create heirlooms of my own through knitting and crafting that
(hopefully!) generations to come will enjoy for years and years.
Daniels says
IMPROVE ME!
I love participating in community events to help others such as providing all the fixings for a thanksgiving dinner to less fortunate families.
Shannon says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m really good at managing personal finances. I have a budget that friends envy. ;) I’d love to teach children about budgeting and personal finance. I belive similar principles apply to money management and nutrition and healthy eating/living. I beleive that children need to learn from a young age about what it takes to manage a home, a life, a business, etc and I have lots of fun ideas to make it applicable to chidren’s lives. And it’s something that I don’t think many schools have the resources to teach.
angela says
IMPROVE ME! I teach kindergarten and love teaching my students about recycling, being less wasteful and healthy eating.
Lisa says
IMPROVE ME! I LOVE Ikea!! My dog is a therapy dog, and I would like to be able to go with him more to nursing homes to cheer people up and the library to have kids who are anxious when reading to adults practice reading dog stories to him.
Whitney J says
Improve Me!
I would try to help locals in need find ways to become self reliant.
Hillary says
“IMPROVE ME!”
I would work with the elderly. I’d love to create a program that encourages people to visit nursing homes/ hospitals/ assisted living centers. To many of our parents and grandparents are suffering from lonliness – a very curable affliction.
Vanessa says
IMPROVE ME!
I’m a junior high and high school English and Journalism teacher. I chose teaching because I love working with young adults and, as corny as it sounds, I really like the feeling I get when I help make a difference in their lives, whether it’s just helping with a simple grammatical error in an essay, or discussing college choices with them. I love when they come to me with questions, looking for advice. Just knowing that they have one adult in their lives that cares about them and wants them to have a successful future makes me feel good (even if they have no idea, and even on the days they drive me nuts!) Hopefully I can continue to improve the lives and skills of my students.
Vanessa says
IMPROVE ME! I would love to be able to help people overcome their addictions…
Stacy L. says
IMPROVE ME! I’d love to help adults learn to read – considering it’s something I enjoy so much.
Mandy says
IMPROVE ME!
I’d love to improve the lives of others by donating my time, social media skills, and energy to helping local libraries. They’re unsung heroes in the community and they offer so much to so many people. Growing up, the library was one of my safe havens. It’s sad to think that in times of economic hardship, libraries are one of the first things to suffer budget cuts. They offer so much, for free, to a community. They are desperately needed.
Suzanne says
IMPROVE ME! I’d love to be able to volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters again.