Debbie Tenzer, Founder - DoOneNiceThing.com

Debbie Tenzer, a marketing strategist in California, found a way to actively spread kindness by creating the website DoOneNiceThing.com -- a site that encourages people to do at least one nice thing for someone else every Monday. Site features include a blog, people profiles, and weekly kindness ideas for inspiration.

What inspired you to start DoOneNiceThing.com?

I wanted to be a better person, and help people more, but my follow-through didn't always live up to my intentions. So I decided to think small. I promised myself that I'd do one nice thing for someone every Monday. It was such a small commitment that I thought I'd be able to fulfill it. And I have.

Why Monday?

Originally I thought it was the day that people needed help the most, so it would be a good day to help THEM. But the result was it helped ME and made my Mondays better.

What are some of the cool acts of kindness you've seen people do on your site?

Maurice Stein, who won an Academy Award for creating the makeup for the original Planet of the Apes film, retired and now gives free makeup and makeup lessons to burn victims. Dori Kenneally, a former Los Angeles prosecutor, volunteers as a children's advocate for some of the 25,000 foster children lost in the social services system in LA County. Janie Culos is a teacher near Washington, DC who specializes in teaching English to immigrant children. Each week she drives with a friend to a local orphanage and cuddles the abandoned newborns. Darren Erman quit his job with a big Chicago law firm to teach science and coach basketball at a very rough inner-city school in New Jersey. With his help, all the seniors earned scholarships to college. I could go on and on. I love these people.

Who are some of the most inspiring groups you're working with now?

We hear about new amazing people almost everyday. This week we're honoring a group of students from James Madison University in Virginia. Instead of going home for Thanksgiving break, each student spent $325 and 15 hours on a bus to go to Biloxi, Mississippi to help with the hurricane clean-up. For the whole week they slept in a church, removed garbage, served meals at a shelter - how great are these kids! Next week we're honoring Vince Staskel, a paralegal and advocate for people with disabilities. When he was in college he wanted to be a performer, but as he uses a wheelchair, everyone discouraged him. But he held onto his dream, and now he and some his friends are starting a cable TV channel for and by creative people with disabilities. Imagine the determination that takes. He's fantastic.

What dream for the world would you like to see achieved in our lifetime?

End hunger. I know that's a big one. And end AIDS. We can do it. It's a preventable disease.

(Interview by CThings Editor, Paul Horne)