Ikea Announces Sabbatical Finalists

December 13, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on December 14, 2010

Home furnishings retail giant Ikea has named five finalists to win a year-long sabbatical to improve the lives of others.

The public can vote online Dec. 13-Jan. 17 for their favorite project online at  to determine the winner, who will be announced on Jan. 31.  IKEA will donate $1 to Save the Children's U.S. Programs for every vote received (up to $50,000).
 
The five finalists are:
* LaJuana Moser of California City, Calif.): As a foster mom, Moser created bags4kids after years of seeing foster children moved from home to home with only the clothes on their backs. She has since delivered over 8,000 bags filled with personal care products, toys and other necessities for these children. With funding, LaJuana would expand bags4kids to reach more children in need in California and across the country.
* Ralph Johnson, Hempstead, N.Y.: Johnson has been bringing the wonders of science to at-risk students for nearly two decades, exposing them to programs in agricultural science, medical investigation, forensics, and science research. His educational and mentoring efforts have changed more than 800 teens' lives. With funding, Ralph will expand the program to reach nearly three times the amount of students in New York communities.
* Kyria Henry, Round Hill, Va.: At just 12 years old, Kyria Henry founded paws4people, and later paws4vets, training and pairing service dogs with children, seniors, seriously ill and disabled people, and war veterans needing assistance. A year-long sabbatical will allow Kyria to devote her full attention to the paws4vets program, providing service dogs to assist retired and active-duty military veterans as a tool to ease emotional, physical and psychological traumas and help them return to normal life.
* Philip Filner, Lutherville, Md.: When retired scientist Philip Filner learned about an unused greenhouse at Baltimore's Northwestern High School, he knew it was an opportunity to give hands-on courses in biology and environmental science and set students on a path of discovering future career paths. With funding, Philip could create a teaching laboratory, using the greenhouse as a facility for experiments, skilled crafts, and a tool to encourage students to ask questions and learn about nature.
* Elizabeth Woods, Waxhaw, N.C.: After losing her son and her Special Forces husband, Elizabeth created Soul Widows, a support group and online community of resources, forums and retreats for others experiencing loss. With funding, Elizabeth hopes to provide regular meeting spaces, fund therapists and allow continued support to widows through her organization.

"We have been touched by the thoughtful, passionate ideas that were in the nearly 2,000 contest submissions; we want to commend everyone for their heartfelt commitment to improve the lives of others," said Ikea North America Marketing Manager Leontyne Green. "IKEA believes in creating a better everyday life for the many people and we are excited to support the winner in advancing his or her passion project that will impact the lives of many."
 
In addition the year-long sabbatical worth $100,000, the winner also will also receive a 3-day/2-night trip to a spa resort in Phoenix, Ariz., to participate in a one hour life coaching session with O, The Oprah Magazine's life coach Dr. Martha Beck, and will be featured in advertorials in issues of O, The Oprah Magazine. The public can also continue to follow the winner throughout the year as his/her project is chronicled on thelifeimprovementproject.com.