Recycling project.

Soon after Chuck and Teri Maier moved to Valencia, California, from Louisiana in 2004, their daughter, MacKenzie (whose nickname is Mac) was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system that carries a 50-percent survival rate for patients at that stage. Fortunately, following 14 months of cancer treatment at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, MacKenzie, who is now six years old, is doing very well.

During those first difficult days of Mac's treatment, Chuck had to take much time off from work to be with her, and the family suffered from the loss of income. Teri came up with a creative idea to help both daughter and family: she designed a smiley-face drawing that people could download from her website or pick up at designated locations, and then color and use to write encouraging messages to MacKenzie. The well-wishers had the option of making a small donation, and hundreds of people did so. The family received about $7,500, allowing Chuck to continue his leave of absence to support his daughter. More important, however, were the smiles brought to little MacKenzie's face by the continuous delivery of ...