Debbie Tenzer

Debbie Tenzer (Debra Gross Tenzer), is the author of "Do One Nice Thing," and founder of the international kindness movement also called Do One Nice Thing (D1NT). A self-described "kindness detective," she coined the term "Nice-o-holic," referring to a person who performs acts of kindness habitually.

A Los Angeles marketing and advertising executive for many years, Tenzer became frustrated with the divisive political climate in the U.S. surrounding the 2004 elections. One day after having lunch with friends who were bemoaning the sad state of the world, an idea occurred to her: Instead of worrying about the big problems she could not solve, she would look for small problems that she could solve.

She committed to doing one nice thing for someone every Monday, her hardest day of the week. After hearing about it, her friends urged to start a website, which she did, www.DoOneNiceThing.com, and word of it spread rapidly. The movement has members in more than ninety countries, all doing a nice thing for someone at least once a week, and sharing their ideas with Nice-o-holics worldwide.

Tenzer is a frequent media guest, and each week, she promotes a different “nice thing” to do, and tells stories about the people who do them. Do One Nice Thing's accomplishments include the following:

- Tens of thousands of breakfast bars, school supplies and clothes have been given to needy American families.

- Thousands of books have been given to schools, libraries and children's hospitals.

- Tens of thousands of cans of food, frozen turkeys, packages of pasta and other food items were donated to food banks for Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

- Hundreds of dolls, games, and other gifts were donated for needy children.

- One hundred eighty thousand pounds (90 TONS) of school supplies have been sent to U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, who give them to local children so they can study.

"Do One Nice Thing" was honored by Library Journal as the "Best Self-Help Book of 2009," and by Reader's Digest for the "Best Acts of Kindness in America."